Do you really know who your employees are and who your customers are? This question used to be simple to answer, in an age where businesses operated locally, and employees and customers were all known to each other. However, we’re all doing far more business online, and in 2024, your customers can be anywhere around the globe. Our colleagues could be working remotely in any part of the UK, and we might not ever meet them face to face. There are many reasons why given these new ways of working, that a company might set up a system of identity checking for everyone working for them and also for their suppliers and major customers. If you’re running a small business, or thinking about applying for a new position, you can expect to go through some level of background checking, the depth of which will depend on the role.

Background checking is nothing to be afraid of, and not something to be taken personally. Here are the main reasons why companies might want to run identity checks on anyone thinking about applying for a job with them.

Legal Compliance

Perhaps the most important reason for identity checking before taking up a job is to comply with the law. Employers in all parts of the UK face heavy fines if they are found employing people who are either in the UK illegally, or whose immigration status prevents them from working. Right to Work checks will require any job applicant to show documents to prove their nationality and status in the UK.

Customer Loyalty

In a difficult business environment, employers are doing everything they can to keep their customers happy. Good customer service and professional staff go a long way to keeping customers happy, and businesses can only do this if they are sure about the background of their staff. Along with identity verification, managers will try to check references and spend time interviewing candidates, so they make recruitment decisions based on the most detailed level of information possible.

Fraud Prevention

In some sectors, especially financial services, companies want to make sure that they have taken as many precautions as possible to protect their customers’ accounts and money. The risk of taking on a staff member who has an extensive criminal record or history of theft is high, and employers will usually ask for at least a basic DBS check on potential workers. For positions of more responsibility, there may be more detailed checks into criminal records.

Maintaining Standards

The finals checks which may be done are into the qualifications which someone is claiming when they apply for a position. This could mean academic qualifications, certificates to do something like work on gas boilers, or even driving licences. The risk of taking on someone who is not qualified for the job can seriously damage the service offered, and if an employee is dismissed, the costs of recruiting a replacement can be substantial. It’s easy to check on academic and other qualifications, so don’t ever be tempted to lie on your CV or application form.