Does Upwork Do Background Checks?

At Upwork, user safety is a top priority, and we understand the peace of mind that comes with knowing exactly who you're working with. Unfortunately, running background checks on every user simply wouldn't be possible. People from all over the world use Upwork, and countries take different approaches to what background checks can include, where the information comes from, and whether written consent is required to release the results. 

Upwork has a system of identity verification that is fair to all of our users and also creates transparency about who you’re working with. This article breaks down what you need to know. 

Identity verification vs. background checks: What’s the difference?

Traditional employment background checks are a fairly in-depth screening and review process. These checks may involve several third parties, including government agencies, and can include:

• Employment history
• Reference checks
• Credit scores
• Education
• Traffic violations
• Criminal history

Such in-depth checks often require the subject’s national ID number or social security number, along with explicit permission to process and release personal information.

On Upwork, freelancers may be asked to verify their identity. While this isn’t a complete background check, it’s an important fraud prevention measure and can help to give clients added peace of mind that the professional they’re working with is exactly who they claim to be. Identity verification may involve digital or visual confirmation of a freelancer’s government-issued identification. 

Once identity verification is complete, a blue badge is shown on the freelancer’s profile. If you hover your mouse over this badge, a pop-up message appears and explains the purpose. 

Upwork conducts freelancer identity verification on an ongoing basis, and it’s possible for a client to find themselves talking to a freelancer who doesn’t have the badge yet. In these cases, clients should look for other signals that can indicate if a freelancer on Upwork is the real deal. 

How clients can vet freelancers on Upwork without background checks

When making a hiring decision, clients on Upwork will want to look on a freelancer’s profile for :

1. Job Success Score (JSS). A freelancer’s JSS reflects how satisfied clients have been with their work. 100% is the highest JSS score that someone can receive; anything above 90% is considered to reflect very high satisfaction rates. 
2. Talent badges. Upwork talent badges indicate if a freelancer is one of the top performers on the platform. For example, a Top Rated Plus badge means that the freelancer is in the top 3% of pros on Upwork; an Expert-Vetted badge means they’re in the top 1% and have been assessed for specific technical and soft skills. 
3. Profile details. While optional, many freelancers on Upwork put portfolio examples and information about their previous work experience on their profiles. 
4. Client feedback. When a contract on Upwork ends, clients are prompted to leave feedback about their experience with the freelancer. This can include both a star rating and written feedback; prospective clients can view both on a freelancer’s profile.

The best way to vet a prospective freelancer, though, is to conduct an interview. There are two ways to manage the interview screening process on Upwork:

1. In real time over a video call. Clients can schedule and start a video call through Upwork Messages. This type of one-on-one chat is a great way to ask and answer questions, learn more about a freelancer, and discuss project details. Plus, each call is recorded and summarized by Uma, Upwork’s Mindful AI™. These transcripts make it easy to remember what was discussed and create a related contract or milestones. 
2. Asynchronously with instant interviews. Instant interviews are facilitated by Uma and allow freelancers to start the interview process at any time. Clients get clear summaries of each interview, which streamlines proposal review and makes it easier to hire freelancers quickly.

How freelancers can spot reliable clients on Upwork

Feeling comfortable with a new collaborator goes both ways, and freelancers need to be able to trust that their new client is a real person or company. Upwork helps with this type of verification, too. When freelancers check out a client for the first time, they can look at:

1. Billing method verification. Verification of a client’s billing method can indicate that they are real and ready to pay. However,  a great client who just posted a job for the first time may not have verified their billing method yet. That’s why freelancers should look at a few different trust signals and, when possible, talk to prospective clients. 
2. Client payment histories. If a client has used Upwork before, freelancers can see information about how much they typically pay the people they work with. 
3. Reviews from other freelancers. Freelancers can leave reviews about clients, and prospective collaborators can see what previous people have said about a specific client. This once again includes both star ratings and optional written feedback. 

When freelancers and clients feel ready to work together on a project, they can work more efficiently together using Upwork’s AI tools, work diaries, desktop apps, and more — we’ve developed these tools to meet the unique needs of the independent and remote world of work. 

Find your next trusted partner on Upwork

If you’re ready to start working with new collaborators and clients, it’s easy to get started on Upwork. Clients can sign up for a free Basic or Business Plus membership to unlock AI-powered tools and access a marketplace of skilled talent. And freelancers can get more work done for great clients using Upwork and Uma, too — sign up as a freelancer or client today to get started.

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If you are communicating with a hiring manager for a job through the Upwork platform, please note that sharing your personal contact information, such as email address, phone number, or LinkedIn profile, is not permitted in cover letters or at any time prior to the start of a contract. Additionally, all pre-contract communication should take place through the Upwork Messages feature. Learn more about using Upwork Messages here, and see more details on sharing information on Upwork here.