Fast or Forgotten: Speeding Up Background Checks Is HR’s New Competitive Edge

As the labor market tightens and hiring rates continue to decline, HR leaders face a double-edged challenge: move fast to fill crucial roles without cutting compliance corners. According to LinkedIn’s August 2025 Workforce Report, national hiring was 4.9% lower in July 2025 compared to July 2024, reflecting a broader slowdown across industries. Against that backdrop, many HR teams are reassessing every stage of the talent acquisition process — including background checks, which often remain one of the most time-sensitive and compliance-heavy steps to get qualified candidates on board efficiently.

So, with growing pressure to recruit efficiently and responsibly, how can HR teams accelerate hiring without sacrificing legal compliance or fairness?

David Keller, the HR compliance strategist and Vice President at Rapid Hire Solutions, joins Daniel Litwin, “the voice of B2B,” for a discussion in the MarketScale Media booth at the HR Southwest Conference 2025. Together, they unpack the evolving pressure on HR teams to hire right, fast, and fair—and how smarter HR background screening solutions are shaping that balance.

Key Takeaways from the Discussion

• Hiring delays are costly: With national hiring down , every unfilled role means lost productivity. Background checks are often the bottleneck slowing down candidate onboarding.
• Speed through smart automation: Rapid Hire’s average background-check turnaround time of eight hours helps employers make same-day hiring decisions—without cutting legal corners.
• Compliance across jurisdictions: Keller notes that while federal regulations remain steady, local and state HR-compliance laws are evolving rapidly. Rapid Hire’s platform automates those jurisdictional nuances to keep clients fully compliant.
• Building workplace trust: Consistent, transparent screening ensures every employee is held to the same standard—eliminating bias and reinforcing company-wide equity and safety.
• The “human” edge in HR success: Keller emphasizes that top HR professionals blend data-driven tools with genuine empathy, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal relationships—traits that separate good practitioners from great ones.

David “Kiwi” Keller serves as Vice President of Client Services at Rapid Hire Solutions, where he leads efforts to deliver fast and compliant background screening. With more than 20 years of experience in HR technology, legal services, and client operations, he has guided service and growth initiatives for Exact Background Checks and Legal Network. Originally from New Zealand and now based in North Texas, Keller helps employers strengthen hiring efficiency while maintaining compliance and positive candidate experiences.

Article written by Sonia Gossai