The gig economy is booming, so it is crucial to ensure its workers are safe. That’s why more and more companies are conducting pre-employment background checks for freelancers.
This makes perfect sense; a background check can reveal any past criminal activity or false employment claims, giving you an idea of the person you’re about to hire.
It can also help you avoid legal issues. Plus, most of today’s background checks are relatively convenient and affordable.
But should freelancers get background checks? We’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of running pre-employment background checks on freelancers.
We’ll also examine what information these checks might reveal and discuss whether they’re necessary for certain types of work.
Overview of Pre-Employment Background Checks
For freelancers who want to remain competitive in the job market, consider securing pre-employment background checks.
This type of background check is essential for employers to vet potential hires, ensuring that all new employees are trustworthy and reliable.
Pre-employment background checks typically involve a comprehensive investigation and verification of a person’s education, criminal history, and past employment records.
This process may also include a review of any professional licenses they may have held and confirming their identity.
Depending on the job requirements, employers may also ask for credit reports or drug testing results as part of the pre-employment background check process.
Employers use the information gathered in the pre-employment background check to ensure that their new hires are honest and responsible individuals who can be counted on to perform tasks responsibly without breaking any laws or regulations.
This insight into an individual’s professional history is invaluable for employers, ensuring they get the best candidate for their open role.
Benefits of Background Checks for Freelancers
It’s easy to see why you might think twice about having freelancers go through background checks—after all, nobody wants to pay for extra paperwork.
But here are a couple of benefits of having freelancers get background checks that you should consider:
1. Increased trust and respect
The most obvious benefit of getting a background check for potential freelancers is increased trust between you and the applicant.
By taking the time to go through the process and ensure that your freelancer is trustworthy and reliable, they will be more likely to take their job seriously and treat it respectfully.
2. Reduced risk of legal liabilities
Having freelancers undergo pre-employment background checks helps reduce the risk of legal liability if something goes wrong.
If you have all the necessary documents in order, you can quickly point out any potential red flags that might come up in a background check—so you can be confident when hiring a reliable freelancer.
Finding a Service That Conducts Background Checks
If you’ve decided to get a background check before hiring a freelancer, you’ll need to find a trustworthy service. It can be hard to know where to start, so here are a few things to consider:
Security
Look for companies serious about security and understand the risks of handling personal information.
Ensure they use encryption methods and other security features to protect your data from hackers.
Accuracy
The background check should be accurate and reliable. Look for companies that use multiple data sources, such as criminal databases, credit bureau records, and public records (like marriage licenses). This will help make sure the results are more accurate and up-to-date.
Cost
Lastly, compare the cost of different background check providers. Different services may offer different packages depending on what type of information you need (for example, criminal records vs. credit reports), so make sure you compare apples with apples when pricing.
The Risks to Freelancers Who Don’t Get a Background Check
Protecting yourself from potential issues is always a good idea, and that’s why you should consider a background check if you’re a freelancer. But what exactly are the risks you run into if you don’t get one?
Risk of Damaged Reputation
An incomplete background check means you may end up with clients who need adequate information about your credentials, leading them to make assumptions or take risks they otherwise wouldn’t have.
This can damage your reputation if something goes wrong and you’re unhappy with the results.
Risk of Legal Action
If something were to go wrong, it could lead to legal action from your client or their customers. Clients need to know a freelancer’s complete history to be sure that the work will be up to the standards in their industry and within the law.
Risk of Missed Opportunities
Clients who want to ensure that their work is done correctly by experienced professionals can choose freelancers who have passed a background check over those who still need to.
As a result, freelancers with background checks may benefit from potentially lucrative opportunities.
By getting a pre-employment background check done, however, freelancers can give clients peace of mind and show that they have the experience and knowledge necessary for the job — opening up more job opportunities for them in the long run.
What Information Can Be Found in a Pre-Employment Background Check?
Did you know that a pre-employment background check can tell you a lot of helpful information about a freelancer?
Well, it’s true! Doing a pre-employment background check is a great way to verify the credentials, history, and experience of any freelancer you’re considering hiring.
When it comes to background checks, they can provide several pieces of information.
- Verifying Education and Credentials: Background checks can help verify the education and credentials the freelancer claims to have. This is especially important for jobs that require specific qualifications or certifications, such as law or medicine.
- Verifying Work History: Background checks can also provide helpful information about the freelancer’s past employers, job titles, and dates of employment. This helps determine if the freelancer has had consistent work experience or if they may have any gaps in their work history.
- Verifying Character References: A background check may include character references from former employers or colleagues who can vouch for the freelancer’s qualifications and work ethic. This is especially helpful for positions that require trustworthiness and reliability, such as financial advisors or accountants.
Doing a pre-employment background check offers valuable insight into who your potential freelancer is—and whether they have the right skills and experience to do an outstanding job for you!
Best Practices for Freelancer Security
You might be wondering what you can do to ensure the security of your freelance business and protect yourself from potential risks.
One thing that freelancers should consider is getting pre-employment background checks for prospective hires.
Background checks can provide valuable information about a candidate’s past, including criminal records, education history, and employment history.
This helps you make an informed decision about who to bring onto your team and can help reduce the risk of hiring someone with a shady past or bad intentions.
Best practices for secure freelance businesses include:
- Verifying all documents, such as resumes, references, credentials, and certifications
- Obtaining a full background check on any potential hire
- Requiring signed contracts with specific provisions concerning non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements
- Developing strict policies on security for data storage and access
- Regularly updating policies to keep up with technology changes and advances in the industry.
Pre-employment background checks are just one part of creating an environment where your freelance business is secure.
Taking precautions like these can mitigate risk and create a safe working environment for everyone involved.
Conclusion
It’s up to you as a freelancer to decide whether or not pre-employment background checks are necessary.
If you’re working with clients who require thorough background checks, completing the check may be worth the extra time and money.
However, if you’re working with more flexible clients, it might be better to save time and money and opt out of getting the check done.
Whatever the case, it’s essential to carefully weigh the pros and cons of the situation and make an informed decision.
After all, it’s your business; you should always do what’s best for you and your clients.
