Background Checks for Employment

hintergrund Checks for EmploymentBackground Checks for EmploymentSurveys show that up to 95% of employers require employees to undergo some type of hintergrund check sometimes including a credit check during the hiring process. Why do employers want this information? It could be for several reasons. For instance, if government security clearances are required for the job you are interviewing for, an employment hintergrund check may be required. For positions involving accounting or financial responsibilities, credit reports can provide insight into how financially dependable you are. Before you agree to allow an employer to run a background check during the hiring process, find out what kind of information they can discover and what your rights are. What is a Background Check? A background check is a review of a persons commercial, criminal, and (occasionally) financial records. Typically, an employer will contract with an outside vendor who specializes in background checks. T he background check company will review your records to determine if you are who you say you are and whether there are any red flags in your personal or professional history. Depending on restrictions imposed by state law, behauptung records might include criminal history, employment record, credit history, driving record, and even medical history. However, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) cautions employers against using medical history or genetic information in hiring decisions. Why Employers Conduct Background Checks There are many reasons why background checks are commonly used in hiring. The employer may want to make sure you are telling the truth. Its estimated that over 40% of resumes can contain false or tweaked information, so employers want to ensure that you can do what claim. (Once they hire you, an employer may tout your qualifications to clients - if it is revealed that these qualifications are false, it reflects poorly on the employer.) The empl oyer may perform a background check to find out whether you actually graduated from the college you said you did or to confirm that you worked at your previous employer(s) during the time stated on your resume or your job application. These checks can also be used to protect employers from liability issues - if employees behave poorly, employers can sometimes be held responsible for negligence, or failing to do the research required. For example, if a bus company hires someone with a poor driving record, they can be held responsible if the driver gets into a crash the expectation is that a bus company should check the driving records of any candidate before hiring. Employers Must Ask Before Doing a Background Check Before doing a background or credit check, employers must request and receive written permission from you. If anything in the reports leads to the company deciding against hiring you, they are required to inform you and give you a copy of the report. These rules are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and are meant to protect you. For instance, perhaps something that turns up in your background check is incorrect- having access to the report will allow you to get in touch with the necessary organizations and agencies to correct the error. While some information on your background check may be of legitimate concern to employers, these checks canbedrngnis be used as an excuse to discriminate. Employers must request background checks of all applicants equally- for example, it would be illegal to check the criminal records of male job candidates but not female. And, employers cannot use background information to discriminate. Contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) if you suspect the background check was used in a discriminatory way. It is discrimination to make a hiring decision based on race, national origin, sex, religion, disability, genetic information, and age (for candidates 40 or older). Employment Backgrou nd Check Timing Many employers conduct background and reference checks during the hiring process, prior to offering a candidate the job. However, in some cases, a job offer may be contingent upon the results of the background check. That means the offer could be withdrawn if the organization finds negative information. If the checks arent finished before your start date, you could lose your job. Reference checking firm Allison and Taylor reports that many employment agreements and contracts include a stipulation that says the employer can hire you with a 90-day probation period. During this time, they will not only evaluate your job performance but, in some instances, will do background and reference checks. During this time, if the results are unsatisfactory, they have the legal right to fire you. Information Included in a Background Check Whats included in an employee background check? The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) sets the standards for screening for employment. The F CRA defines a background check as a consumer report. Before an employer can get a consumer report or run a credit check for employment purposes, they must notify you in writing and get your written authorization. In some states, there are limits on what employers can check. Employment History VerificationYour employment history includes all the companies you have worked for, your job titles, and the dates of employment and salary earned at each of your jobs. An employment history verification is conducted by an employer to confirm that the employment information included on your resume and/or job application is accurate. What Other Information Will Employers Seek? Employment background checks are being conducted by employers more frequently than in the past. Thats for several reasons, including concerns over negligent hiring lawsuits. However, background checks dont provide all the information many employers seek. If youre interviewing for a new job, you can expect to encounter some of these requests for information Job Applicant Credit ChecksIts becoming more common for companies to run credit checks on job applicants as well as employees being considered for promotion. Find out what information companies are allowed to check, how to handle a credit check, and how it might impact hiring. Whats in your credit report and why is it relevant to employment? Information available from your credit report can hamper your job search and can be grounds for knocking you out of contention for a job. Especially when it comes to jobs where money and financial information is involved, bad credit can be an issue. Drug and Alcohol TestsThere are several types of drugs and alcohol tests that candidates for employment may be asked to take. Hiring can be contingent upon passing pre-employment drug tests and screenings. Review information on the types of tests used to screen for drug use, what shows up in the tests, and how employment drug screening can impact hiring decisions. C riminal Records and Background ChecksLaws vary on checking criminal history depending on your state of residence. Some states dont allow questions about arrests or convictions beyond a certain point in the past. Others only allow consideration of criminal history for certain positions. Employment VerificationWhen hired for a new job, employees are required to prove that they are legally entitled to work in the United States. Employers are required to verify the identity and eligibility to work for all new employees. An Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9 Form) must be completed and kept on file by the employer. One of the questions job seekers frequently ask is What can an employer say about former employees? Some job seekers presume that companies can only legally release dates of employment, salary, and your job title. However, thats not the case. While most companies will refrain from badmouthing a former employee to a prospective employer, they are legally allowed to d o so. Be aware of what a former employer might say before you begin the job interview process. The information contained in this article is not legal advice and is not a substitute for such advice. State and federal laws change frequently, and the information in this article may not reflect your own states laws or the most recent changes to the law.