HRplus Makes Thorough Background Checks Easy

When Kimberlye Hudson went to work as a human resources generalist at theRegional Organ Bank of Illinois, she found what she considered to be asignificant piece of the company’s human resources framework missing. Therewas no program in place to run background checks on potential employees.

Having worked at other companies where thorough background checks wereroutine, Hudson recognized the importance of having checking processes in placethat were not only complete and wide-ranging but also quick and easy to perform.

Within a few days of turning to HRplus for a solution, she had acustom-tailored background-check process in place and ready to run. “HRplusdoes everything for you,” says Hudson, who found HRplus through a Web search.”They send you a checklist and you can simply check off the types of servicesyou need and they take care of everything else.”

Hudson’s point person at HRplus was Anna Sauer, director of nationalaccounts, who says that it is becoming more and more common for midsizecompanies like the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois to rely on backgroundchecking in the same way that large corporations do.

“Kimberlye said she always wanted to do reference checks and at least abasic level of criminal-background checks, and we were able to put that togetherquickly for her,” says Sauer. “One service that we offer that no one else inthe industry has is our Comprehensive Guaranteed Reference program, and this isthe one we selected for Kimberlye.”

Through the Comprehensive Guaranteed Reference, when Hudson identifies anypotential job candidate, “we check with at least two of their previousemployers and we go directly to their supervisors at those places,” saysSauer. “We don’t go through the HR department because we want to heardirectly from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, just what type of employee thisperson was. We go through everything from what their work habits were like, whattheir attendance was like, how they got along with people, what their strengthsand weaknesses were, how they handled stress.

“What we can then give back to our client is an actual overview of whatthis person was like as an employee in a day-to-day situation.”

HRplus also set up a system to run comprehensive criminal-background checksfor potential employees who might work in more sensitive positions or requirespecific professional licenses. This, says Hudson, is a service that somecompanies neglect but that has become increasingly necessary.

Since the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois partnered with HRplus in March2001, a third component has been added to the package: a driving-record check.

“I’ve used background-check services before, but HRplus has been justexcellent,” says Hudson. “They make everything very specific and easy tounderstand. Anna answered all my questions quickly and comprehensively and evenset me up with a sample of how it would all work. The larger companies Icontacted didn’t do that.”

Hudson says she knew quickly that she had selected the right vendor. “We’vefound the package they provided for us to be much more cost-effective, and itsaves us many, many man-hours. What would take us four to five days now takesjust a few hours.”