How to Manage Background Checks Requirements for a Global Workforce
The hiring process overseas can be a much taller hurdle than anticipated – How can enterprise security executives vet candidates effectively?
Background checks are a normal course of the hiring process for many companies in the United States. In some industries – like financial services and education – this due diligence is actually mandated by government regulations. Even if not required by law, background checks help limit a company’s liability risk and can reduce turnover by ensuring that the right candidate is matched with the job from the beginning.
As workforces have globalized, companies are increasingly faced with the task of conducting pre-employment screenings for non-U.S. citizens. In 1960, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that only about six percent of the U.S. labor force was foreign-born. Today, that number is more than 16 percent. Additionally, about 11.7 million workers abroad are employed by the majority-owned affiliates of U.S. companies. If your company has not yet conducted a pre-employment screening on a foreign citizen, I can guarantee that the day is coming soon.