The Background Verification Checklist Before You Hire
Seven concrete steps — from Aadhaar to a proper reference call — that most families skip and later regret.
Background verification isn't a matter of trust — it's a matter of care. Even the most wonderful hire deserves a paper trail, if only to protect them from a bad reference later. Here are the seven steps we recommend, in order.
Why verification matters
Roughly a third of the disputes we hear about come down to information that could have been checked in the first week. It is a small kindness to both sides to do this properly.
Documents to collect
- Aadhaar (or Voter ID) — with a photocopy for your records
- Two recent photographs
- Permanent address proof — a rent agreement, utility bill, or letter from the village panchayat
- Previous employer contact — name, phone, and dates of employment
- Emergency contact — a family member's phone number
Police verification, step by step
Most major cities now have an online form. In Mumbai and Delhi you can submit through the state police website; in Bengaluru, the process still requires an in-person visit to the local station. Expect two to six weeks. Do it even when it feels bureaucratic — it is required in some states and it protects everyone.
The reference call that works
Don't ask "were they good?" — nobody says no. Ask instead: "Would you hire them again today, and if not, why not?" and "What did they find difficult in your home?" The pauses tell you more than the answers.
