In an age where people’s identities are fragmented across workplaces, social media, and personal lives, it can be challenging to get an accurate read on a person based on a few interviews and a one-time background check.
Of course, people are entitled to have different personas depending on the environment. Still, when troubling aspects of someone’s outside life begin to bleed into the workplace, a company must protect its brand and provide workplace safety.
Continuous background checks are different from the traditional one-time background checks that companies have done for years. Periodic monitoring ensures employees comply with company policies and legal requirements and identifies and mitigates potential risks. This turn to continuous monitoring probably contributes to the increased market for background check software market, which DataHorizzon Research valued at $3.7 billion in 2023 and predicts will reach $8.6 billion by 2032.
Traditional Background Checks
Background checks, which date back decades, became popular in the 2000s after 9/11. These screenings usually verify an individual’s identity, criminal history, and employment history. It gave employers a snapshot of a person’s background at the time of the hire. However, the information captured could be outdated due to overreliance on databases that were not updated in real time. These traditional checks usually covered the basics and rarely dived deeper into social media activity, online behavior, involvement in risky activities, global watch lists, financial health, and behavioral analysis.
Additionally, traditional methods often require manual data entry and verification processes, which are time-consuming and prone to human error. This delays the hiring process and increases the chance of mistakes, negatively impacting candidates who might have perfect qualifications but are rejected because of a clerical error. The employer loses out on a glowing candidate and allows a competitor to snap up a highly qualified individual.
While many people have grievances about continuous background checks because of privacy issues, these concerns have always been present when discussing traditional background checks. Employers must comply with legal requirements, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines, and should balance the need for employee safety with the right to privacy.
The Rise of Continuous Background Monitoring
Artificial Intelligence (AI) powers continuous background checks, which take traditional checks and supercharge them with much more detailed analysis. These checks continue after initial screening and use advanced technology to magnify a candidate’s comprehensive presence online and in the real world.
Companies can now automate criminal record checks, keeping track of any new illegal activity their team members are involved in. This provides real-time alerts and is one of the most essential features of continuous background screening.
Because of its ongoing nature, continuous background checks can alert employers if something occurs after a candidate has been hired. Additionally, when laws and regulations differ from state to state, a high-quality criminal monitoring service has built-in protocols that ensure compliance adherence, regardless of location.
Companies have good reason to conduct ongoing criminal background checks since workplace violence is on the rise. Industry Week reported an annual average of 1.3 million “nonfatal workplace violence incidents between 2015 and 2019.” Homicides at the workplace increased 11 percent during that period.
Not only do businesses want to protect their employees from danger, but they also want to mitigate the liability for negligent hires. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 97 percent of the 435 negligent hiring court rulings between 1974 to 2022 when a company was guilty involved employees who had:
- Interacted with vulnerable groups, including elderly persons, children, and those with disabilities.
- Drove a motorized vehicle.
- Accessed monetary resources or clients’ residences.
- Used force, such as police officers or security guards.
- Used weapons.
Employees represent their companies, even when they’re off the clock, and ensuring their values and attitudes mesh well with the company’s culture is vital for their brands. These checks can identify potentially problematic behaviors, such as racism, violence, or sexually explicit content. This aims to protect the company from potential liabilities and help keep customers and employees safer.
Post-hire monitoring is gaining traction across various industries because companies understand the importance of keeping everyone safe. The Professional Background Screening Association notes that in 2021, 19 percent of organizations conducted background checks after hiring a candidate—this is an increase from 12 percent in 2020, and the trend will probably continue. Major companies, including the Cleveland Clinic, Lyft, and Uber, have adopted continuous background checks.
The Role of AI and Automation
AI-driven background checks use Machine Learning algorithms to increase the efficiency and accuracy of the hiring process. AI processes vast amounts of data in a fraction of the time traditional methods need. It expedites the hiring process, leading to faster decisions on qualified candidates. AI algorithms mitigate mistakes made by human error.
However, AI analysis is only as good as the data it is trained on. Ensuring that human bias isn’t injected into these algorithms is imperative to guarantee fair hiring processes. Businesses should carefully plan and vet third-party vendors when buying services or hiring a company to develop a custom background check platform.
The Future of Continuous Background Checks
Advanced AI and Machine Learning will be even smarter in the years to come, significantly enhancing continuous background checks, pattern recognition, and risk prediction. Blockchain can bolster data security, while expanded monitoring technologies may emerge. Ethical screening will remain a hot topic as the balance between security and privacy must be maintained as technology becomes more powerful.
Periodic monitoring will continue to grow in popularity. This technology is becoming a vital tool that helps companies find the best employees for their culture. It also helps keep the employees and customers or clients safer. If used appropriately and with careful consideration, AI-based continuous background check technology holds great promise for improving the hiring process and creating a more secure, and transparent workplace.
Ashish Kumar, Assistant Vice President of Chetu, a global software solutions and support services provider, oversees multiple portfolios, including the Human Capital Management Team, which works on applicant tracking, talent acquisition, and continuous background screening projects. Ashish brings expertise in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality to these projects.