Employment Background Check
Why does an employer conduct background check?
Whether you are hired or promoted for a job may depend on the information gathered by the employer in a background check. Employers use them to verify the accuracy of information provided by jobseekers. Background reports may also uncover information left out of the application or interview.
Today, more employers are being sued for "negligent hiring" for not checking carefully enough into the background of a potential employee. If an employee's action hurts someone, the employer may be liable. That is one reason more background check are being conducted.
The "information age" also accounts for the increase in background check--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 check.
While some people are not concerned about background investigations, others are uncomfortable with the idea of an investigator poking around in their personal history. In-depth background check could unearth information that is irrelevant, taken out of context or just plain wrong. A further concern is that the report might include information that is illegal to use for hiring purposes or which comes from questionable sources.
What types of information might be 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 pieces of information that might be included in a background check.
Driving records
Vehicle registration
Credit records
Social Security no.
Workers' compensation
Bankruptcy
Character references
Neighbor interviews
Medical records
Property ownership
Employment verification
Military service records
State licensing records
