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Employee Background Checks

Partner with Complete Payroll to run a variety of background checks and employment screenings for job candidates. Protect your business and avoid costly bad hires.

Watch the Overview Screen a Candidate

Protect Your Business

Employers who use background checks greatly reduce the risk of employee theft, fraud and embezzlement. 

Background screening may reveal past criminal behavior and save your company thousands of dollars by helping you prevent a bad hire. Additionally, it is important that you protect your employees and clients from sex and violent offenders. Background screening sends a message to your employees, vendors, and clients that you are serious about safety

 

What is a Background Check?

A background check is a review of a person's criminal, commercial and (sometimes) financial records and employment history. Background checks are common in employment and professional settings. It's estimated that approximately 70% of employers run background checks on employees before hiring them.

The Benefits of Employee Background Checks

Employers who conduct background screening greatly reduce the risk of employee theft, fraud and embezzlement. Background screening may reveal past criminal behavior and save your company thousands of dollars by helping you prevent a bad hire. Additionally, it is important that you protect your employees and clients from sex and violent offenders. Background screening sends a message to your employees, vendors, and clients that you are serious about safety.

Arrange an Employee Background Check Now

While this resource page is designed to explain all the ins and outs of employee background checks, you'll still need to work with a certified, third-party background check provider to actually run proper background checks on your potential hires. Fortunately, Complete Payroll is just that. So please, browse this page, learn all about how employee background checks work and better prepare yourself to start running them on your potential hires. 

Complete Payroll Can Help

Partner with Complete Payroll to run a variety of background checks and employment screenings for job candidates. Learn more about the benefits of employee background checks and all our solutions - then complete the form to get set up.

70% of employers use background checks to screen job candidates for a reason.

Types of Background Checks

What should an employee background check include? The short answer is it depends - mostly on the industry, position and where the employer is located, among other factors. Also, employers can typically choose from a variety of types of background history to check. But we've provided a list of the most common and important things employers look for when running background checks on job candidates.
legal-paper

National Quick Check

jail (1)

County Criminal Search

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SSN & Address Locator

law (1)

CBSV SSA ID Verification

case

Credit Report For Employment

car

Motor Vehicle Report

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Domestic Education Verification

jury

Domestic Employment Verification

files

Government Watch List

judge

Civil Litigation Search

open-book-2

Tax Lien Search

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Federal District Court Search

balance

Bankruptcy Search

social-media

Social Media Search

The National Quick Check Package provides a compiled report saving time and money by bundling services. This powerful report will help identify unknown risks, improve compliance, and help reduce liability. 

The National Quick Check includes: 

• Multi-State Criminal Database Search 
• National SSN/Address Locator 
• National Sex & Violent Offender Search 
• Terrorist Search (OFAC Search / Government Watch List) 

This search typically provides instant results; however, verification of possible database records may take 1 - 5 business days. Some jurisdictions take much longer due to county clerk delays. 

National Quick Check searches all criminal databases available. It searches based on First Name, Last Name, and Date of Birth (D.O.B.). Some jurisdictions do not provide D.O.B. In such case, Complete Payroll will display results based on a First Name, Last Name match. Sources of records are subject to change without notice. Complete Payroll does not guarantee that data for all states or jurisdictions is included in this database search. Please review our database Coverage Area for more coverage details. 

Complete Payroll makes every effort to maintain updated records and to add new sources for records as available, but as with all public records, we rely on the completeness and accuracy of each state’s records. Even though the National Quick Check is a “national” criminal history search, it is not a substitute for live criminal court record searches. We recommend completing additional criminal court records searches as part of your background screening process.

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation

Whether it be on the resume, during the job interview or through other information like employment or education history, it's estimated that 50% of job applicants provide misinformation somewhere in the process. Background screenings are an effective way to hold your candidates accountable.

Theft

Theft

33% of business failures are due to employee theft. Typically people who steal or embezzle money from a company have a pattern of illegal behavior. Background checks can help you avoid hiring someone that may end up stealing from the company, its employees or even various partners.

Violence and Drug Use

Violence & Drug Use

17% of all violent crimes occur in the workplace. And 8.2% of all full-time employees are illicit drug users. Background checks are an effective measure for determining if your candidate is likely to use drugs or bring violence or hostility to the office.

Try One of Our Packages

We have an extensive list of screening options and reports for your pre-employment screening. Please see the sample of a few of our packages below. There are multiple custom and state packages available. If you would like to see all of our services or would like to set up an account, please contact us.

Essential - Employee Background Check Package

Essential

$49.95

7-10 year Multi-State Criminal Database Search

1 County Criminal Search

County Courthouse Verifications of Database Hits (up to 2)

National SSN/Address Locator

Sex & Violent Offender Search

Terrorist Search (OFAC Search / Government Watch List)

Enhanced - Employee Background Check Package

Enhanced

$64.95

7-10 year Multi-State Criminal Database Search

County Courthouse Verifications of Database Hits (up to 3)

National SSN/Address Locator

Sex & Violent Offender Search

Terrorist Search (OFAC Search / Government Watch List)

7-10 Year County Courthouse Search with Statewide Upgrades in Some States (up to 3 counties/states)

Expanded - Employee Background Check Package

Expanded

$74.95

7-10 year Multi-State Criminal Database Search

County Courthouse Verifications of Database Hits (up to 3)

National SSN/Address Locator

Sex & Violent Offender Search

Terrorist Search (OFAC Search / Government Watch List)

7-10 Year County Courthouse Search with Statewide Upgrades in Some States (up to 3 counties/states)

7 Year Federal Criminal Search (statewide)

The service from start to finish has been exemplary and on a professional, knowledgeable, yet friendly level that far exceeds any other vendor we have come to deal with. Nothing ever seems to be too much trouble for their team and our company is made to feel unique, never feeling that we are just one of many clients that they have to deal with each day. 

Talent Management Compliance Manager

They give the client the feeling that no matter how large or small, we are entitled to excellent customer service.  They provide training materials that we incorporate in our manager training as well as offer the service to train as well.  Bottom-line, I highly recommend them. 

Director, Employee Services

It is an easy process to do the searches on our new/prospective employees and the response time is typically 24-48 hours.

Nicohl Swartley, Controller at Three Brothers Wineries and Estates

Frequently Asked Questions

Which search package should I use?

Complete Payroll offers many search packages and options. Try to match the package up to the position for which you’re hiring. Don’t spend more money than needed, but make sure you order a package that includes the information needed to make a good hiring decision. For example, if the applicant will be driving for the company, order a package that includes a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR). It’s also good to include a County Criminal History search in your search package. For additional information, you may view our Package Comparison Chart or contact us for more information.

How long does it take to get my search results?

Many search results are available instantly or within minutes; however, many of our services require hands-on research by one of our court researchers. Even though most county criminal searches are returned within a few days, some jurisdictions may take up to 3 – 4 business days. Please refer to the search details by clicking on the specific link for more information.

How long does it take to get back non-instant search information?

There are three common non-instant searches. County Criminal History searches may take up to 3 – 4 business days. Motor Vehicle Reports typically take less than 1 business day except for a few states that take longer. PA, for example, takes 10 business days. Employment Credit Reports are typically available in less than an hour. Please refer to the search details by clicking on the specific search link for more information.

Are Social Security Numbers used when searching crimilar records?

No. Typically, criminal record information is located by a Name, Date of Birth (D.O.B.) match. Social Security Numbers (SSN’s) are often required for some of our packages to help validate the SSN and to provide a list of know names or addresses to better help identify the applicant; however, criminal records are typically filed by Name & D.O.B. Because of the sensitive nature of SSN’s, jurisdictions don’t want to make SSN’s public record.

Is there a monthly fee or minimum charge?

No. You only pay for the searches you run and there are no minimums.

What are my billing options?

You may pay for your services via credit card or ACH/electronic check. We bill on a monthly basis. Complete the form on the bottom of this page to request more information about setting up a background check and billing details.

Do I have to receive a signed authorization form before running a search?

Yes. As an employer, you must follow FCRA rules and you should always have the applicant sign an authorization before running any background search.

What happens if I decide not to hire a candidate based on their search results?

Familiarize yourself with the FCRA requirements. A Pre-Adverse Action Letter and/or an Adverse Action Letter may be required. We will help you generate this information, but you are ultimately responsible for following the FCRA rules and regulations. You can also learn more about compliance issues related to employment screenings by checking out our free resource, the Employee Background Check Toolkit.

 

Set Up a Background Check Now

Partner with Complete Payroll to run a variety of background checks and employment screenings for job candidates.
 

Immediate

Most background checks can be set up right away and deliver results within a day or 2.

Accredited

We are accredited by the National Associated of Professional Background Screeners.

Affordable

You'll be surprised how affordable it is to run background checks on potential hires. Especially when you consider it against the cost of making a bad hire.

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