| Depending on your state and what type of business | | | | can determine what type of information is actually |
| you are in, employee background checks may or may | | | | needed, considering each position within their company |
| not be mandated by law. In businesses that deal with | | | | and the details of the job function. Some positions may |
| children or seniors, Federal law requires background | | | | require cash or sensitive information handling and |
| checks on all employees and/or volunteers. The | | | | would therefore need a thorough criminal background |
| reasons should be obvious: the Federal government | | | | check. Other positions may not be as sensitive in |
| wants to ensure that those served are safe from | | | | nature but require a high degree of education or |
| hard and employers need to safeguard themselves | | | | experience in the field. Educational background checks |
| against negligent lawsuits. | | | | and work related references are often very important |
| If an employee will be doing any type of driving for the | | | | in this type of pre-employment screening. |
| business, it is important to know their driving history. For | | | | Some employers require a credit report in their |
| insurance purposes, employers need to have | | | | pre-employment screening tools. This subject is widely |
| up-to-date information regarding the candidate's Motor | | | | debated and is often considered an invasion of |
| Vehicle Records (MVR) report. This report details any | | | | privacy. Many prospective employees ask employers, |
| moving violations or accidents. Information such as this | | | | "I will not be handling cash transactions or dealing with |
| can assist the employer in making a solid decision | | | | personal information, why do you need my credit |
| regarding the hiree. This type of information is usually | | | | report?" Most employers who request this information |
| available at the state level for a minimal fee. | | | | are not necessarily trying to be intrusive into the |
| Employers conduct employee background checks for | | | | candidate's life; they simply believe that a credit report |
| a variety of reasons. With the rise of lawsuits for | | | | is a good indicator of character. Some employers insist |
| negligence, many employers are considering employee | | | | that a poor credit score, which indicates failure to pay |
| background checks a standard part of their Human | | | | bills on time, means that the individual does not have a |
| Resource guidelines. A growing number of child and | | | | high level of responsibility. Others claim that a poor |
| elder abuse cases, as well as child abduction cases, | | | | credit score indicates poor job performance and could |
| make it important for all employers hiring people to | | | | possibly turn into retention issues. Credit reports also list |
| work with these groups to perform detailed | | | | employment history and places the person has lived. |
| background checks. Following the terrorist acts of | | | | Employers often use this as a pre-screening tool to |
| September 11, 2001, many employers are now | | | | verify that application information is true and accurate. |
| screening new hires with a scrutinizing eye. Concerns | | | | Another type of pre-employment background check |
| over potential terrorists obtaining positions within | | | | included in the "investigative consumer report" is |
| sensitive agencies have increased the popularity of | | | | character referencing. This method usually involves the |
| employee background investigations. | | | | personal interviewing of friends, family, neighbors or |
| Employers also want to be sure that the information | | | | associates and is an approved method of screening |
| given by the applicant is true and accurate. With many | | | | under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This type |
| employers reporting up to 30% of applicants falsifying | | | | of investigation does, however, require a separate |
| information, background checks can screen for those | | | | consent form required under the FCRA. It gives the |
| who lie on resumes. Employers often interpret this as | | | | employer a general idea about the candidate's |
| a lack of good morals and character on the part of | | | | character and personal moral values. |
| the applicant. It is direly important for prospective | | | | It is imperative that employers provide notice to the |
| employees to be up-front and honest about their | | | | applicant prior to conducting the pre-screening |
| backgrounds, work experience and education. | | | | background check. As mandated by federal law, |
| Pre-Employment Background Checks | | | | specifically the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Employers |
| In the information age in which we live, background | | | | need to ensure that they are following the guidelines |
| checks are not necessarily difficult to perform. | | | | set forth by the Act. Having the proper consent forms |
| Basically, an employer needs to understand the Fair | | | | and understanding what information can and cannot be |
| Credit Report Act laws as well as laws pertaining to | | | | used in the hiring process is just as important as |
| individual states. With these laws in mind, the employer | | | | gaining the information itself. |