Key Results
1.5-Day Turnaround Time (TAT)
“Our TAT time is 1.5 days, which is fantastic.”
18-Year Partnership
Ross and Accurate have worked together for nearly two decades.
2 Annual Hiring Surges Supported
Summer seasonal hiring and holiday staffing.
Proactive Compliance Management
Automated communications, regulatory updates, and built-in compliance safeguards.
Coverage across 2,000+ locations across the US & Puerto Rico
Consistent screening support across multiple jurisdictions with varying requirements.
Customer Overview
For Ross Stores, managing background screening is far more complex than simply processing candidates. With 2,000+ locations across the United States and Puerto Rico, the company must navigate a constantly evolving landscape of local, state, and federal hiring regulations while maintaining the speed required to support a high-volume retail workforce.
“Every area has different compliances that have to be met, and that can be a challenge when you’re managing the background [checks] for a company that has locations all across the United States and over into Puerto Rico,” said Nita Walsworth, Director of HR Services at Ross Stores.
The Challenge
Ross needed a background screening partner that could help the company:
- Stay ahead of changing compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions
- Mitigate the risk associated with complex screening regulations
- Maintain fast turnaround times for hiring
- Easily accommodate increases in screening volume during large-scale seasonal hiring events
- Anticipate and manage delays caused by external factors such as court closures, restricted access, or public records issues
The Solution
Ross partnered with Accurate to create a proactive, scalable background screening program designed around compliance, speed, and partnership.
Staying ahead of compliance
Rather than reacting to regulatory changes after they occur, Accurate helps Ross prepare in advance.
“Accurate helps us stay on top of compliance by being proactive and providing us the updates that are coming,” said Walsworth.
From automated notifications to built-in workflows, Accurate helps operationalize compliance across the screening process.
“They’re automating letters that need to be sent out and really keeping us apprised of what type of compliance pieces are coming down so we can proactively prepare and get processes in place.”
A true strategic partnership
A key differentiator for Ross has been the relationship-driven approach provided by Accurate’s account team, including Ross’ account manager Melissa Silver.
“It really feels like a working relationship. It’s not transactional. It’s a personal relationship,” Wallsworth said of her partnership with Accurate and Account Manager Melissa.
After years of partnership, the Accurate team understands Ross’s hiring goals and business needs. And any issues are addressed quickly and collaboratively.
“[Melissa] understands our culture and it makes it really easy to work with. And if there is some type of system issue that comes up, she is very quick to course correct that.”
Planning for high-volume hiring
Ross experiences two major hiring surges each year as it staffs for summer and holiday demand. Accurate works proactively with Ross to forecast hiring needs and ensure resources are in place before demand spikes.
“We have such a history built with Accurate that they anticipate where our needs are going to be,” Wallsworth said.
By conducting planning discussions in advance, Accurate can allocate staffing and resources to support increased screening volumes.
“That helps [the Accurate team] to allocate resources to make sure that they’re staffed enough to be able to get through our surge that we have twice a year.”
Managing hiring risks before they impact operations
Accurate also provides visibility into external factors that can affect screening timelines, including court-related delays and public records limitations.
“Those things that we know ahead of time help us either start hiring sooner or know that there’s going to be a lag in that and we can plan for it.”
This foresight allows Ross to adjust hiring strategies and timelines before disruptions impact staffing goals.
Business Impact
By combining fast turnaround times with proactive compliance support and partnership-focused account management, Accurate helps Ross:
- Maintain fast hiring timelines at scale
- Navigate complex and changing compliance requirements
- Better prepare for seasonal hiring peaks
- Minimize disruption from court and public records delays
- Improve planning for new store openings and workforce expansion
Perhaps most importantly, the partnership has built long-term confidence and trust.
“The anticipation of what we might need before we even know that we’re going to need it is something that builds a trust that we have with Accurate.”
Why Ross Continues to Choose Accurate
After 18 years, Woolworth points to responsiveness, cultural alignment, and a solutions-oriented mindset as the primary reasons for the partnership’s longevity.
“The responsiveness that I get, the understanding, the cultural fit is a big driver of why we stay with Accurate.”
Rather than leading with limitations, Accurate focuses on finding a path forward.
“If I ask for something, the answer’s not an immediate no. It is, ‘How can Accurate make it happen?’”
For Ross, that proactive approach, coupled with a deep understanding of the business, continues to turn a vendor relationship into a trusted partnership.
