The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted business as we know it. How is the crisis still affecting your organization? Are you still experiencing a temporary decline in hiring, or does hiring seem to be non-stop? No matter your industry, the hiring environment has changed because of COVID, probably forever. Workforces are still restricted mainly in the way they can work, and many are still in some form of lockdown or self-isolation. This poses a lot of challenges when it comes to recruitment, such as:

1. Navigating the new realm of virtual recruitment;

2. High demand for recruitment in specific sectors (e.g. pharmaceuticals, retail supermarkets, delivery companies, transportation, retail banks, healthcare);

3. Accommodating for existing staff working from home;

4. The need to hire employees (in high demand) with a specific skill set (e.g. digital marketing, IT teams, customer service);

5. The overwhelming amount of applicants without the right qualifications due to industries struggling;

6. Delayed hiring processes;

7. The need to expand candidate reach because of the lack of appropriate applicants;

8. Losing applicants to competitors;

9. Considering the long-term and short-term economic impact of hiring during the uncertainty of the pandemic.

The number one challenge companies will face as they restart hiring is that their people and financial resources may be dramatically limited. They’ll have to think about efficiencies in the way they hire and the people they bring on.When they post positions, they’re going to be flooded by applicants. How will a limited HR staff sort through 400 online applications to find the best two?

Companies are faced with the difficult task of hiring quickly and economically whilst managing the day to day risks and challenges. And the situation is changing at an hourly rate. Businesses have to adapt rapidly to survive, i.e. cutting steps in their hiring process, and no one knows how this will play out. However, there are ways you can mitigate the impact, learn how with this FREE ebook. Taken as a whole, this ebook is the perfect primer for any HR professional, business leader and company looking to avoid employee background screening risks. It provides the tools and knowledge needed to stay ahead of COVID-19 effectively.

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Regardless of the industry, you work in, and the likelihood is that your normal hiring processes and background checks would have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic forever.

Key Impacts of COVID-19

Lockdown drastically reduced the data sources needed to carry out checks for incoming employees, and many vital workers would have been affected by this. As the lockdown restrictions are being lifted, sources are slowly becoming available, but the uncertainty of a second wave could put them under threat again. The economic impact of Covid-19 resulted in many employees being furloughed. This would have also restricted the availability of accessing data sources.

Did you know that 1 in 3 furloughed UK employees was pressured to work? Read more about furlough fraud and how it looks like.

Employsmart™: background checks during COVID-19 and more

As a background screening provider, CRI® Group can support you by proactively monitoring the data sources and working with them to understand when and how to carry out verification requests. By working with a background screening partner, we can tailor your screening needs to the challenging times we’re facing. EmploySmart™ is CRI® Group’s robust pre-employment background screening service that helps companies of any size and industry avoid negligent hiring liabilities. We know you have lots of questions. We compiled a FAQ ebook, read now or download your FREE ebook.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s imperative to ensure a safe work environment for all of your employees. EmploySmart™ can be tailored to meet the requirements of each specific position within your company. As a leading worldwide provider of specialised local and international employment background screening, CRI® Group’s services are second-to-none in providing risk mitigation and peace of mind in the hiring process.

Learn more about how EmploySmart™ can help your company stay protected during these strange and uncertain times. Contact CRI® Group today.

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk ManagementEmployee Background ScreeningBusiness IntelligenceDue DiligenceCompliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider.

We have the largest proprietary network of background screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- GuidelinesISO 37000:2021 Governance of OrganisationsISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System, ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management systemAnti-Money Laundering (AML) and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems.