Blue Collar Vs White Collar Employees - How Background Verification Differs

Blue collar and white collar are terms used to differentiate between two different types of employees based on the nature of their work, acquired skills, educational backgrounds, and the type of work environment they typically operate in.

Who are white-collar employees?

White-collar employees typically work in office settings and perform tasks that require cognitive and analytical skills, such as accountants, lawyers, managers, engineers, and other professionals. They have college degrees or specific certifications that may have specialized training in their field of expertise. They are often salaried employees and work in a corporate setting. 

Who are blue-collar employees?

Blue-collar employees, on the other hand, typically work in jobs that involve manual tasks or physical work, such as suppliers, drivers, construction workers, mechanics, electricians, factory workers, and other industrial workers. 

These employees usually have vocational or technical training, and their work often involves working with tools, equipment, and machinery. They are often paid hourly wages and may be employed on a temporary or seasonal basis.

Comparison Chart

However, work responsibilities and skills are not always strictly defined and there may be some overlap between the two categories. Some jobs may require both manual labor and cognitive skills, and some employees may transition from blue-collar to white-collar jobs or vice versa throughout their careers.

How background verification differs between the two?

The checks conducted in the background verification process for blue-collar and white-collar employees may differ based on the nature of work, the level of trust, and the responsibility involved in the job.

Blue-Collar Employees Background Verification 

For blue-collar employees, the background verification process may focus on verifying their work experience, vocational training, and technical skills. This may involve checking references, verifying previous employment, and conducting criminal background checks.

Blue-collar background verification is important to  

• hire the right employees with the necessary skills, experience, and qualifications for the job
• identify any criminal or legal issues that may impact your business safety and reputation
• verify work history and any licenses or certifications they may hold

Key Checks for Blue-Collar Employee Screening

• Identity Checks: Identity verification through validation of NIDs to ensure that the person claiming to be a particular individual is actually that person.
• Address Checks: Address verification of blue collar employees to deter fraud and risks by confirming the existence of a given address.
• Criminal Record Checks: Conduct a thorough criminal verification to learn if the candidate was accused of a crime or was involved in another manner like as a witness/victim.

Overall, conducting background verification for blue-collar workers can help ensure that employers are making informed hiring decisions and creating a safe and productive work environment for all employees.

White Collar Employees Background Verification

The background verification process for white-collar employees includes a thorough review of the employee’s educational qualifications, work experience, and professional licenses or certifications. This may also include checking credit history, conducting criminal background checks, and verifying references. 

Depending on the seniority level of the position, employers may conduct detailed checks into the personal and professional aspects as higher levels of stakes and responsibilities are involved.

White-collar background verification is important to

• track and prevent dual employment/employee moonlighting
• know the criminal records of employees for workplace safety
• identify fake or misleading CVs, educational degrees, and professional certifications
• validate employment history, uncover employment gaps, and probationary fails
• prevent reputational risks and reduce the company’s liability

Key Checks for White Collar Employee Screening

• Identity Checks: Identity verification through validation of NIDs to ensure that the person claiming to be a particular individual is actually that person.
• Address Checks: Address verification of blue collar employees to deter fraud and risks by confirming the existence of a given address.
• Court Record Checks: Criminal/court records checks to learn if the candidate was accused of a crime or was involved in another manner like as a witness/victim.
• Education Check: Validation of documentary evidence of an employee’s educational qualification
• Reference Check: Validation of a candidate’s integrity and competence through primary sources
• Employment Checks: Screening the past employments and work experience claimed by a candidate to ensure quality hiring
• Drug Abuse Test: Drug and substance abuse test as per business needs and drug screening policy

However, the specific details of the background verification process will vary based on the industry, company policies, and the level of risk associated with the job duties.

Blue Collar and White Collar Employees Screening by AuthBridge

AuthBridge’s robust background verification solution powers your white-collar and blue-collar screening process with real-time verification capabilities. By leveraging database-driven checks, businesses can conduct thousands of verifications in minutes and yield accurate results 10X faster. 

Our USPs of background check process

• Bulk background checks in minutes
• Customizable and integrable solution
• Quick, scalable, and seamless verification and onboarding journeys
• Proprietary databases and domain expertise

With AuthBridge, identity checks and online criminal record checks can be performed in real-time but other checks like Police Verification and Education verification might take some time as there is a dependency on the Government and other agencies for information.