2021 was a challenging year for hiring and trust & safety teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to court closures and backlogs of screenings. The ongoing labor shortage and "Great Resignation" forced business leaders to reinvent structures and adapt to changing employee expectations. HR and compliance professionals had to innovate and optimize processes on the fly. Leveraging background check technology is crucial for scaling businesses, but it requires careful consideration of needs and gaps to find the best partner. Sharing insights with competitors can help everyone scale their workforce in an efficient and safe manner. The flexible workforce has grown exponentially, offering agility and scalability benefits. Companies must prioritize equity and fairness in their hiring processes, removing bias from the evaluation criteria. Embedding empathy into the hiring process is essential for building a diverse and engaged workforce. Ultimately, innovative solutions to business problems are key to success, and companies must be willing to learn from each other and adapt to changing circumstances.