Hiring new staff is always a complicated procedure, with interviews, training, and understanding the company culture. However, hiring new managers can be a different ball game altogether. Depending on their department, they will have an enormous amount of power to control the day-to-day operations of your business. Therefore, it is vital to run background checks on any potential new management hire.
A background check is a process whereby you or a company you hire performs a complete review of the history of any potential new employee. This kind of check is primarily interested in finding out their criminal record rather than their social history (although this might also be required for sensitive positions). Many countries will have their own version of this check, with the UK's being known as the Disclosure and Barring Service (DB). These DBS Checks come in three levels of depth, ranging from a Basic check covering someone's basic criminal history. This will include any unspent convictions and some cautions. The next level up is the Standard check which covers all spent and unspent convictions, with the final level, Enhanced, which covers everything in the Standard option and local police checks.
Some industries already require background checks on all staff by law. This includes those working with vulnerable people such as schools or care homes and bank employees and those working with money or critical infrastructure. Nonetheless, if your company is not in one of these industries, it is still a good idea to perform a check to increase your confidence and security in the hiring and vetting process.
Although not all criminal convictions should preclude you from hiring a manager as long as they tick all the boxes, certain convictions can be too risky for you to choose them. For example, if a potential manager has a long history of violence or theft, you probably don't want the hassle that they might bring. You can always do a free inmate search on that case. On the other hand, if they received a caution for something minor as a youth, you could probably overlook it. The point is that this check will uncover information that allows you to make an informed decision.
If you are hiring a manager, the chances are that you need someone responsible to oversee the operations of a specific department. You will rely heavily on their judgment, and you are giving them some executive power to get things done efficiently without your constant input. If your organization is large enough, this power can be abused if left unchecked. This is especially true in cash-heavy businesses. For example, if you are a fast-food franchise owner, your manager will be in constant contact with cash. This can be tempting for those in potions to manipulate records to enrich themselves. While no matter what you do, this temptation will always exist, at least if you run background checks, you can see if they have a history of theft or something that might lead them to steal.
In the hiring process, the need to run background checks is essential. They can be the final line of defense against hiring the right person or the wrong person. While some history of criminal behavior might not warrant exclusion, the fact is that you will know, and you can use your judgment to make the correct decision.
