San Francisco-based HR software startup Checkr is building a fairer future by improving understanding of the past. Using Checkr’s AI-powered hiring technology, companies of all sizes can better understand the changing workforce, bring transparency and fairness to their hiring, and ultimately build a better future for workers. Since 2014, Checkr has processed more than 45 million background checks on job seekers for thousands of employers, and every month, Checkr processes more than 1.5 million background checks.
According to Arthur Yamamoto, VP of Talent for Checkr, “Our biggest challenge as a business has been maintaining connection and confidence as we transitioned to remote operations” during the current Covid-19 crisis.
How has this pandemic shifted the way your business operates, and how have your people responded to the crisis?
“Our office has been fully remote since March 5th, and our people have really risen to the occasion to stay productive, nimble, and mindful,” Yamamoto says. “The team has responded with great compassion and understanding to mitigate the anxiety of so many unknowns. In a cross-team effort, we released a special background check package that helps our customers and candidates navigate court closures that would normally delay the background check. With this package, we can collaborate with our customers to resume hiring and help gig workers secure opportunities.”
What are you most proud of that your company has achieved over the last year, or any specific milestones you want to tout?
“In the past year, we have seen our company mission more fully realized in the public eye. ‘To build a fairer future by improving understanding of the past’ is to create more opportunities for people of all identities and backgrounds, in spite of what may have occurred in their history. At our first hosted conference in November, we demonstrated the profound impact that employment has on reducing recidivism rates to our customers and made the case for fair chance hiring as an essential component of modern businesses.”
How would you describe your workplace culture, and what attributes are you looking for when determining who gets hired there?
“Our workplace culture is people-centric and mission-driven. We strive to hire smart and kind people who care equally about diversity and social causes as well as working hard and performing.”
Are there any guiding principles that you or your company live by?
“We live by our core values of ownership, humility, connection, grit, and transparency. These values inform how we work individually and in teams, and how we recognize our peers for their accomplishments. These principles also guide our hiring process and how we evaluate our continuing success.”
What has been the biggest challenge to overcome as a business, and how did you rise to the occasion?
As far as the aforementioned difficult transition to remote work for Covid-19, Yamamoto says, “We rose to the occasion by maintaining tight communications across the company and pivoting our priorities accordingly. Our leadership set the precedent to cut unnecessary expenses, innovate product offerings, support our customers, and understand the reality that will emerge in the coming months. We’ve been able to manage the crisis by adapting and looking ahead.”
What are some of the best practices you and your staff do to stay connected in this time of crisis?
“We have managed to stay connected through All Hands, virtual happy hours, and trivia games that now take place on Zoom and Google Hangouts. In general and in times of crisis, we try to find a balance between honesty and humor. We remain very data-driven and have just launched an internal survey to measure employee sentiment that will guide our communications and initiatives.”
Would you like to share anything else?
“We would like to extend our empathy to everyone impacted by the crisis. Although the situation is challenging, we remain grateful for the privilege of working at a supportive company that puts its employees first. Our thoughts are with those who do not have access to employment, shelter, safety, and healthcare, and those who are isolated in the prison system without the ability to socially distance and self-care. Please give back to your local communities and organizations where you can!”
Checkr proves that once again, smart organizations are crafting strong lines of communication to count on during the displacement of so many workers now working remotely. Depending on honesty and humor during this extended moment of national and global uncertainty will see Checkr through to the New Normal that the best of humanity is already working on for a better post-pandemic world.
