ShieldID (ABC#s) Explained

What is an ShieldID (ABC#)?

A ShieldID (ABC#) is a unique number assigned to a person after they have completed a standardized, continuously monitored background check from one of ShieldHub's certified background check partners. 

Contractors can get their own ShieldID and share it with as many clients as they see fit, in order to demonstrate that they have a high quality, tamperproof and continuously monitored background check.

Why would businesses accept an ShieldID (ABC#)? 

96% of businesses in the US understand the importance of running a criminal background check as part of the hiring process, citing public safety, improving quality of hires and protecting company reputation as their top priorities. Additionally, they cite that length of time to get results is the biggest challenge they face. (PBSA Survey)

With the rise of the gig economy, more businesses outsourcing aspects of their business to contractors, and the proliferation of news and brand damaging events through social media, businesses continue to value the same reasons they ran background checks on employees and would like to protect those same values when engaging with independent contractors.

However, there are two competing power struggles going on that is making it difficult for businesses to make this a reality.

1. Rising litigation around employee misclassification (1099 vs W2), has resulted in many businesses looking to their contractors to maintain their own background checks, just like the contractor would maintain their own professional license and insurance.
2. Artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever to create deep fakes of background check reports, making it almost impossible for businesses to trust a background check completed and maintained independently by their contractors.

All that said, when a contractor has a ShieldID, this allows the business to accept and trust the contractors background check, without anyone incurring additional costs or losing incomes while waiting for a new background check to complete.

What are the benefits of getting an ShieldID?

Obtaining and keeping an ShieldID valid allows you as a contractor to stand out from the crowd by demonstrating to your clients that you recognize their values and best of all, can instantly prove to them that you have an independently verifiable and continuously monitored background check. 

Better still, is that you can now re-use your one background check and share the outcome across your clients, which dramatically reducing your cost of business as an independent contractor. No more wasted time and money, waiting for background checks to complete while you could be out earning!