Answered: the most burning questions about Employment screening as an employee

21 July 2021

Why does my (future) employer ask me to undergo the employment screening?

The need for screening candidates and employees is increasing. It is not because your (future) employer doesn’t trust you. In some sectors, hiring regulations are becoming stricter than before. Think of the military, banking, and educational institutions, especially for preschoolers. Safety is very important in these sectors. But even if you don’t plan to work in these sectors, the company might screen you.

Employers find background screenings useful for integrity-sensitive positions within the company. For example:

    • Managers
    • Employees who handle money and goods
    • Employees who work with children, elderly people, sick or disabled people
    • Employees who have access to sensitive information, sensitive areas (machines, hazardous chemicals)
    • Employees who have access to vital infrastructure (power, ICT)

Why would I agree to undergo the employment screening?

The screening will benefit not only your (future) employer but also you. Hereby you show that you have qualifications, and stand for integrity and transparency. The result of the screening can be useful for your future job applications. It is also handy for performance reviews.

Pro-tip: if you search for a new job, you can request a screening for yourself. Afterwards, you can share the results during the job interview. This will show your future employer that you can prove the level of your education, previous employment records and other relevant data.

Can the (future) employer screen me without my permission?

No, this is illegal to do. Every “candidate” has to give permission for the screening. This document is called “Candidate permission.” Every background screening organization has to ask you to sign it before starting the screening procedure.

I am applying to a company in another country, is it possible to screen me as well?

Yes! There are specific checks which companies can request depending on the country. For example, many Dutch employers request a VOG(Dutch Criminal Record) check. This check is done if you have a registration on the address in the Netherlands. VOG certificate is issued by the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security.

Another example, if your employer wants to check your professional qualification is valid, PESCHECK can arrange that. In this case, our screeners will reach out to your local university to confirm the degree. If your diploma is from a Dutch university, we verify it with the Dutch government.

What kind of screenings my (future) employer is not allowed to process?

In the Netherlands, it’s almost impossible to do drug testing of their employees. The Dutch government is discussing the possibility of allowing drug testing for specific professions, reports RTLZ.

In order for drug testing to happen in the workplace, a lot of special conditions must be taken into account. There should be a legal reason for testing, and privacy has to be handled.

The law allows testing for a few professions, think of plane crews, train drivers, pilots, motorists and skippers. Otherwise, unless specified by law, no drug testing can be requested.

What kind of information does the background screening report include?

Background checks‘ final report can contain simple information, such as identity verification. The report also includes more complicated data, such as criminal records, PEP/Sanction list and education. With PESCHECK, after finishing the screening process, you and your (future) employer will receive the same report.

PESCHECK can conduct global background checks for your employer. This will save a lot of time. We are an official background screening organization (POB: 1551), licensed by the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Safety. Our data processing is compliant with the latest GDPR regulations and we are ISO27001 certified. See here our privacy policy.

For the organizations: if you want to know more about services, visit pescheck .io or book a demo .

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