REAL Background Checks from ESR -- The ESR Advantage

Pre-employment Screening Comparison sheet

by Employment Screening Resources (ESR)

Some employers make the mistake of believing that all background screening is done the same way, so that selection ends up depending upon price. Unfortunately, employers who make the decision based upon price can find out the hard way that they did not get what they thought they were paying for. That is because there are ways for background firms to cut costs that leave employers vulnerable. For example, some firms use "at-home" operators or send confidential data to India for processing in order to save money resulting in data privacy and quality being put at substantial risk.  Other firms cut corners   by restricting how far back they conduct criminal searches.  Other firms save money by hiring the cheapest possible labor to process crucial information, whereas ESR has every staff member undergo a rigorous 30 hour online educational course and weekly training sessions. 

ESR offers the following chart to help employers identify quality background firms offering REAL Background Checks and to avoid firms offering a "knock-off service" where the employer is not receiving the professional services they should be getting. Employers need to be aware of the difference between firms that are mere data vendors and firms that offer professional services.   

DANGER:  Employer should very carefully consider the dangers of using a screening firm that utilizes at home operators for domestic verifications or sends your data off-shore for processing.   Such a practice puts the employer at risk.  Do you want your job applicant's personal and private information spread out in living rooms, kitchen tables and dorms across America, or available to off-shore operator beyond the reach of US privacy laws, not to mention the lack of quality control and standards.  Employers are strongly advised to avoid the use of screening firms who are willing to sacrifice quality and privacy just to increase their profits at your expense. 

NOTE:  ESR does NOT send U. S. applicant information outside of the U.S. for processing.  Once data leaves the U.S., the data is beyond the reach of U.S. privacy laws and there is  no meaningful privacy protections.  ESR believes that firms that send data outside the U.S. put applicants and employers at great risk, for no other reason then to make a little more money.  In some countries, it is a well known fact that U.S. identities are stolen and used for identity theft.  As a practical matter, someone in the U.S. has no ability to hire a lawyer in a foreign country to pursue legal action or contact a foreign police authority to get any action taken.  The only exception is where ESR is asked to perform an international verification and the information resides outside of the U.S.  Even in that situation, ESR goes to great length to protect applicant data. by going directly to the school or employer.  If it is necessary to have a researcher do research in a foreign country, ESR  only releases the minimum information absolutely necessary.  The countries where a researcher may be needed is identified as a Red Zone Country by ESR.  

 ESR strongly advises all employers to ask a screening firm if they send data outside of the U.S. and to seriously consider the dangers to their hiring processes and to their applicants.   

For an article by ESR on How to Select a Background Screening Firm, see>>>
For a sample Request for Proposal (RFP) to a screening firm, see>>>

Questions to Ask a Pre-Employment Screening Firm:

ESR is not merely a "vendor" of screening services. We are the leading national experts and your Safe Hiring partner.

 

For a sample RFP for screening services, see:  http://www.esrcheck.com//backgroundscreeningrfp.php