What Do Background Checks For Entail?
Background checks are a screening method used to confirm the information provided by job applicants through official legal documents. Background checks can increase the clarity and validity of employment decisions while also assisting firms in lowering the risk of future liabilities.
Background checks must be conducted in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a federal legislation that regulates the creation and use of consumer reports as a hiring tool, in order to be used as a requirement for employment.
Employers are shielded by FCRA from accusations of unfair employment practices, and job hopefuls are shielded from discrimination or privacy violations.
The Purpose Of Background Checks By Employers
An employer must provide you with written notice and obtain your consent before doing a background check on you. However, if the employer is merely making enquiries on their own (as opposed to obtaining a report from another business), they are not required by law to obtain your permission.
For instance, they do not need your permission to contact your old employer. If they make use of a third-party employment screening company, they merely have to let you know.
How to Do to Get Ready for a Background Check
Knowing what data an employer might find is the best way to get ready for a background check:
Get a copy of your credit report and examine it ahead of time for any mistakes in your background information. Dispute any inaccurate information with the creditor or other source if it exists.
By requesting a copy of your driving history from your state’s department of motor vehicles, you can check your driving history. The same should be done with your other records, such as those from your education, court case(s), and more.
- Examine your personnel records
Ask your prior employers for copies of your personnel files if they are still available. Make sure you are aware of the potential feedback from your references.
Summary
Too many benefits exist for outsourcing a background check to be disregarded. The ability to make an impartial decision, peace of mind for both you and your employee, and access to only the data that can be legally requested are the key benefits of outsourcing.
The benefits of completing your screening internally, however small, are often negligible. Business owners are commonly persuaded to outsource because they can shield their company from lawsuits, discrimination complaints, and other issues. Contact us to receive our services!
FAQs
1. Which laws govern background checks conducted during employment?
Employers are required to abide by the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act), state consumer reporting laws, and enforcement instructions issued in 2012 by the US Equal Opportunity Commission. When conducting an employment screening and creating questions for employee background checks, you must adhere to these rules.
2. How long are background check results kept on file by employers?
There is no law or regulation that specifies how long background check reports must be kept. Employers must take into account contracts with background screening companies, state and municipal employment agencies, and employment agreements. Employers often keep the results of background checks for three years, or until the employee leaves the company.
3. How much time are background checks good for?
Background Verification are not defined by law or regulation. Employers must therefore determine the long-term legitimacy and reliability of personnel verification. The background investigation is valid till the subsequent investigation. Employers frequently renew their background Verification on chosen candidates and keep them on file until those individuals are terminated.
