| 9/11 the world as we knew it changed forever. With | | | | in the use of background checks: |
| the ever-present threat of terrorist attacks, the world | | | | * Following the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, |
| has become filled with distrust and suspicion. With the | | | | Federal Law and in some cases the State Laws have |
| increased emphasis on security issues today, it has | | | | made background checks mandatory for certain kinds |
| become commonplace in almost all sectors, for | | | | of employment in order to enforce tougher and more |
| companies and employers to take extra caution by | | | | thorough screenings of new job applicants and even |
| running employment background checks into the | | | | current employees. |
| credentials and records of potential employees. | | | | * On the heels of major corporate scandals such as |
| Background checks are not limited to just new | | | | Enron, even top management and CEOS of |
| applicants; even current employees may undergo | | | | corporations are no longer exempt from scrutiny and |
| background screening to help employers in their | | | | also subject to screening and checks into their |
| decision making such as the promotion of employees. | | | | background. |
| While companies cannot be blamed for being extra | | | | * In professions dealing with children, the rise in incidents |
| vigilant in the face of such threat, employees are | | | | such as child kidnapping and child abuse have |
| generally not comfortable with the idea of having | | | | necessitated criminal background checks of applicants |
| some stranger run a personal background check. It | | | | in order to protect the innocent children from such |
| can feel very intrusive when employers dig out | | | | predators. Some laws also facilitate this screening, |
| episodes from the employees' past, which should have | | | | such as the Federal Law of National Child Protection |
| no bearing or relevance to their qualification and | | | | Act, which authorizes state officials to access the |
| suitability for the job at hand. If you are a potential | | | | FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) |
| candidate faced with a similar situation, you have | | | | database to perform background checks on job |
| every right to question the necessity of such personal | | | | applicants. The same is true of professions dealing |
| background checks, and to have a say about what | | | | with elderly or disabled persons. |
| information can be covered in the background report | | | | * In certain sectors, the use of falsified documents to |
| and what cannot. Of course, if you have not broken | | | | get a job is on the rise. According to estimates, some |
| any law or have any blemish on your record, you have | | | | 30% to 40% of the applicants' resumes are forged in |
| nothing to fear from these routine background | | | | some way or another. In such cases, background |
| screenings. | | | | checks can help weed out the unqualified from the |
| Below are further reasons why there is a marked rise | | | | qualified candidates. |