Why Conduct a Background Check?
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False or inflated information
supplied by job applicants is frequently in the news. Some estimates
are that 30% to 40% of all job applications and resumes include some
false or inflated facts. Such reports make employers wary of accepting
anyone's word at face value.
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Negligent hiring
lawsuits are on the rise. If an employee's actions hurt someone, the
employer may be liable. The threat of liability gives employers reason
to be cautious in checking an applicant's past. A bad decision can
wreck havoc on a company's budget and reputation as well as ruin the
career of the hiring official. Employers no longer feel secure in
relying on their instinct as a basis to hire.
Current events have caused an increase in employment screening.
· Child abuse and child abductions
in the news in recent years have resulted in new laws in almost every
state that require criminal background checks for anyone who works with
children. The move to protect children through
criminal background checks now includes volunteers who serve as coaches
for youth sports activities and scout troop leaders.
· Terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, have resulted in heightened security and identity-verification strategies by employers. Potential job candidates and long-time employees alike are being examined with a new eye following September 11, 2001.
· Corporate executives, officers, and directors now face a degree of scrutiny in both professional and private life unknown before the Enron debacle and other corporate scandals of 2002.
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Federal and state laws
require that background checks be conducted for certain jobs. For
example, most states require criminal background checks for anyone who
works with children, the elderly, or disabled. The federal National
Child Protection Act authorizes state officials to access the FBI's
National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database for some positions.
Many state and federal government jobs require a background check, and
depending on the kind of job, may require an extensive investigation
for a security clearance.
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The "information age"
itself may be a reason for the increase in employment screening -- the
availability of computer databases containing millions of records of
personal data. As the cost of searching these sources drops, employers
are finding it more feasible to conduct background checks.
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Landlords may want to conduct a background check to know who they are renting to.
What Is Included in a Background Check?
Background
reports can range from a verification of an applicant's Social Security
number to a detailed account of the potential employee's history and
acquaintances.
Here
are some of the things that might be included in a background check.
Note that many of these sources are public records created by
government agencies.
-Driving Records/DMV History
Verification-Vehicle Registration
-Social Security Number
-Criminal Records (National and County
Criminal Records Search)
-Sex Offender Registration
-Credit Records
-Past Employment
-State Licensing Records
-Incarceration Records
-Bankruptcies
-Identity and Address Verification
-Character Reference Check
-Education Verification
For More information including our affordable rates
please call us today at
(260) 665-6050 or
Toll Free 888-665-6050
