In light of the growing impact of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, the Sterling team has been enacting the necessary contingencies for our business operations throughout the world. For more information, visit
https://www.sterlingcheck.com/covid-19/.
As with all unforeseen events, Sterling’s global screening and identity services continue to stand apart thanks to our proprietary automation technology and partner relationships. We are committed to providing our clients every opportunity to make fast, accurate and safe hiring decisions. To reinforce that commitment, we have posted a statement to the market:
Sterling Clears Path for Background Screenings Amid COVID-19.
We are grateful for your continued trust in Sterling. To view and track global service updates daily – login to your account, click on
Help & Resources, and search for COVID-19 Global Service Updates.
GLOBAL SERVICE UPDATES
Global Criminal and Verification Services. With expanded precautionary measures being issued globally in response to COVID-19, Sterling has temporarily suspended the following global services (as of Monday, March 30, 2020) due to requirements for original documents, in-person site visits, and/or closures.
- Local Criminal Check: France
- Nationwide Criminal Check: Italy, Jordan, Spain, Switzerland
- Address Verification: India, Pakistan, Philippines
- Criminal National: Greece, Tunisia
- Education Verification: India
As such, these services will be actively monitored and reopened as soon as possible.
EMEA Verification Services. In addition, the following verification process changes took effect March 30, 2020:
- India Education Verification. Due to current restrictions within India for the next 21 days, Sterling will transition to document collection to complete this service.
- European Verifications (all jurisdictions). Closures or restrictions imposed across Europe have made it increasingly difficult to obtain a verification. As a result, Sterling will make temporary adjustments to how we process verifications in Europe to ensure hiring success. While Sterling will continue to research and source qualified contacts in order to obtain verification results, we will limit the number of attempts. If we are unable to make contact or find that a source is temporarily closed, Sterling will contact the applicant or use supporting documentation already provided to complete the verification.
International Drug & Health Services. In accordance with the National Health Authorities recommendations in Europe, the scheduling of international specimen collections has been suspended until further notice.
UK SERVICE UPDATES
UK Criminal Record Checks. In light of the coronavirus outbreak and social distancing guidance issued by the government, the public have been advised to work from home where possible and many organisations have been experiencing difficulties in following the UK Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Access Northern Ireland ID check guidance. As a result, the DBS has now
temporarily changed their ID checking guidance for Basic, Standard, and Enhanced disclosures. In addition, Access Northern Ireland (Access NI) has also changed their ID checking guidelines for Basic, Standard, and Enhanced disclosure applications for those organisations unable to conduct in-person identity checks.
Click
here for details and guidance for the Fast Track Emergency Adult and Children’s Barred List, DBS (Basic, Standard, Enhanced), and Access Northern Ireland (Basic, Standard, Enhanced).
Sterling fee options for DBS Fast-Track and Barred List. Following the announcement from the DBS to temporarily provide Standard and Enhanced checks and fast-track emergency checks of the adults’ and children’s barred lists free-of-charge, Sterling is offering two options to consider:
- If you feel your organisation needs to have these service options available, please contact your Sterling representative who will adjust your account accordingly so that all eligible roles submitted will be provided free-of-charge.
- If your organisation is happy to support the Sterling effort to raise donations by paying your normal service fee for roles that would otherwise be free-of-charge during this national crisis, please contact your Sterling representative and we will add this to your account. All eligible services ordered via this option will have the cost donated to The British Red Cross.
Read more about Sterling’s COVID-19 efforts with The British Red Cross.
UK Education Checks. Due to the educational institutions closing to pupils, students, and non-key workers, we will not be able to obtain a verification from these institutions for the immediate future. Therefore, unless the verification can be obtained via an online database, we will complete these services using document collection. Please note that if you do not utilize document collection today, Sterling will do this for you temporally without additional charge.
CANADIAN SERVICE UPDATES
ID Verification for Canadian Criminal Record Checks: In an effort to facilitate social distancing to minimize unnecessary contact, Sterling has introduced a temporary remote ID verification process that allows clients to validate candidate IDs through an online/video-chat instead of physical in-person ID verification. This solution is designed to be used when the electronic ID Verification is not an option or unsuccessful. Sterling has notified the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that we are implementing this measure on an exception, emergency basis until we can return to our standard requirements for the ID Verification process.
Canadian Fingerprinting: Our Fingerprinting service has been temporarily suspended due to Commissionaires office closures. As a result, candidates are not able to complete their fingerprints. You may continue to order the service or wait to order until normal business activity resumes. In both cases, Sterling will provide the results as soon as they are received.
Canadian Police Records. Sterling has temporarily suspended hard copy police certificates via physical mail as of April 6, 2020. Police certificates will be made available in the documentation section of a candidate results on the client portal. In the case in which the individual receiving the certificate does not have access to the client portal, a secure email will be sent.
Canadian Education and Employment Verification: Due to reduced hours of operation and closure of non-essential business in some provinces, Sterling is extending a document retrieval service for all clients. We will continue to make all regular attempts to educational institutions and businesses unless we confirm they are closed. If we are unable to complete the verification through our regular process, a Sterling representative will contact the candidate for a document that confirms the search in question.
Canadian Badge Verification. As of April 6, Sterling temporarily suspended hard copy badges via physical mail. Badges will be made available in the documentation section of a candidate results on the Sterling client portal. In the case in which the individual receiving the badge does not have access to the client portal, a secure email will be sent.
U.S. CRIMINAL SERVICE UPDATES
U.S. Criminal Searches. Despite courthouse closures, Sterling is completing more than
95% of criminal searches in the U.S. Although response strategies vary by jurisdictions, if criminal data can be collected, we will. If a criminal record search cannot be completed due to a court closure, Sterling will close the search indicate that it cannot be performed. As an alternative solution where U.S. counties permit, you have the option of utilizing a statewide search to fulfill orders at an additional cost. Or, you can choose to re-run searches at no additional cost once the court reopens.
Please check back here for updates. If you have any further questions, please reach out to your dedicated Sterling Client Success partner.
