Intelligo Webinar Highlights Part One: The Importance of FCRA Compliant Background Checks in the U.S.

In our recent webinar we unpacked the ins and outs of modern day due diligence, highlighting the shifts we’ve seen in companies' overall approach as well as the nuanced differences and careful attention to detail required when navigating thousands of jurisdictions and regulations. Today, we’re diving into our key takeaways regarding U.S. based checks and how Intelligo ensures clients remain FCRA compliant in order to avoid risk while still providing the reliable background information needed to satisfy each individual client’s search requirements. 

Dig into the highlights below before checking out the full webinar episode. 

Emerging Trends 

Overall, we’ve noticed a shift in how HR departments approach due diligence in the United States, moving from off-the-shelf, low budget checks to more robust, frequent due diligence practices for screening both candidates and existing employees. Awareness is everything and as employee related transgressions mount, so does the need to scrutinize who we invite to work with us. Organizations are realizing employees don’t need a C-suite title to pose a risk, and anyone with access to sensitive information should be checked. Running regular checks on existing employees also gives peace of mind to clients and investors, allowing deals to run more smoothly and preventing any surprises down the line that could jeopardize the return or reputation of a company.

Navigating Compliance

As employee screening becomes increasingly more prevalent, so must our understanding of the Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA, which governs pre-hire and current employee reports among other things. The FCRA is a 1970 law, established to ensure fairness for the subject, disclosure in obtaining consent, accuracy and integrity of the search, as well as strict data and privacy standards. 

With over 3,000 counties making up the United States, each existing under different jurisdictions composed of their own unique set of compliance, credit checks, and employment requirements, it can seem like an impossible task to keep up. Despite their best efforts, many businesses routinely conduct non-compliant checks, completely unaware of the FCRA blindspots baked into their practices. Common mistakes include performing due diligence on a potential or current employee without their consent or reviewing a background check on a potential employee who has not yet received an offer. In the U.S. all current and prospective employees must provide consent for a background check and an official offer must be extended before the employer reviews certain types of results. When relevant, Intelligo automatically presents these kinds of reports in two parts, separating the results into pre-offer and post-offer reports in order to maintain FCRA compliance.

Before running a background check it is crucial to make sure that you are not exposing yourself to compliance infractions. The Intelligo platform is optimized to take the burden off your shoulders, ensuring all parties remain compliant when running background checks. Intelligo offers services that can synthesize all available resources within FCRA guidelines. Combining the power of AI  and human analysts to perform in depth searches on all locations associated with the subject, our multilevel approach and transparent pricing allows you to choose which coverage is needed for your search before tailoring your report accordingly. 

With Intelligo’s platform designed to make sure all parties remain compliant at all times, you’ll be in good hands and can leave navigating complex compliance requirements to us. Watch our full webinar here, schedule a demo to ensure your searches are compliant, and stay tuned for our next blog post highlighting Intelligo’s global suite of services.