HireRight Announces Availability of 2009 Background Screening Benchmarking Report

80% of Survey Respondents Expect Workforce to Grow or Remain Similar

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The 2009 edition of the Background Screening Benchmarking Report is now available from HireRight, the world leader in on-demand employment screening. This is the second annual edition of this report, which is based on a comprehensive survey of human resources and security professionals from organizations representing a wide range of company sizes and industries. The report contains key findings, trend data and best practices intended for use by hiring professionals in the development and enhancement of screening and verification programs. It also provides interesting anecdotal information for management teams in support of strategic and tactical business decisions. The report is available at www.hireright.com/benchmarking.

Among the Key Findings from the organizations that responded to the survey are:

    --  Forty-five percent expect workforce size to remain similar to current
        levels while 35 percent expect growth in the next year
    --  Reviewing workforce screening standards, evaluating applicant tracking
        systems, and integrating background screening with other processes are
        top strategic initiatives planned for this year
    --  Top challenges include attracting and retaining experienced workers,
        transferring knowledge among workers, and managing changes in workforce
        size
    --  Up to 18 percent of background screening results and up to 19 percent of
        drug screening results adversely affect hiring decisions

For additional key findings go to: www.hireright.com/benchmarking.

Some Best Practices for employers that emerged from the report include:

    --  Use multidisciplinary teams to establish background screening policies
        and standards
    --  Screen all candidates, whether for full-time, part-time or extended
        workforce positions
    --  Use global screening to reveal a more complete history of candidates and
        workers
    --  Use recurring screening to assure continued safety of the workplace
    --  Ensure regulated workers are screened in accordance with compliance
        requirements

For additional best practices go to: www.hireright.com/benchmarking.

Interesting Trends and Statistics revealed by this year's Benchmarking Report include:

    --  Ninety-two percent of respondents perform background screening
    --  Seventy-eight percent screen for hires, transfers and promotions
    --  The primary reasons for screening are to reduce risk to the organization
        and to ensure a safer workplace
    --  While only 29 percent of respondents have integrated their background
        screening with other processes, such integration is a major initiative
        for a majority of companies

For more trends and statistics go to www.hireright.com/benchmarking.

According to Rob Pickell, vice president of customer solutions, HireRight, "Last year's Benchmarking Report was used by companies worldwide in crafting their hiring and screening programs and practices. It has also been used extensively by members of the press to highlight trends in hiring, a topic that's especially critical in today's economy. We believe this new report will be even more useful. Background screening practices and technology are becoming more and more management-oriented, providing daily information for critical business decisions. That shift is reflected in the experience of this year's survey respondents."

The 2009 HireRight Background Screening Benchmarking Report includes responses from more than 1,400 participants across 15 major industry categories, including health care, education, manufacturing, services, technology, and transportation. Total workforce size of these organizations ranged from less than 49 to more than 25,000.

About HireRight

HireRight is a leading provider of on-demand employment background screening, drug and health screening and employment eligibility solutions that help employers automate, manage and control screening and related programs. Many companies, including more than 25 percent of the Fortune 500, trust HireRight because the company delivers customer-focused solutions that provide greater efficiency and faster results. HireRight also provides pre-integrated employment screening services through enterprise e-recruiting solutions from top providers such as Oracle, Taleo, SAP, ADP/VirtualEdge, PeopleAdmin, HealthcareSource and HRsmart. HireRight is an Altegrity company. HireRight worldwide headquarters are located in Irvine, Calif. with offices and affiliates around the globe. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.hireright.com.

    Source: HireRight

Released August 25, 2009