Many first time business owners get nervous when it comes time to do a background check. Although social media is usually a great indicator about whether or not an employee is the right fit, social media can easily be tampered with. For this reason, business owners must do a thorough background check before hiring an employee.
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Unfortunately, background checks can get a little bit tricky. There are certain things that are legal and certain things that are better left un-checked when looking to hire a candidate. For example, you should check credit reports, drug tests, court records, and sex offender lists; you should not check criminal records, medical records, military records, or bankruptcies. This varies from state to state, so it’s important you know exactly what you can and cannot check before diving into a candidate’s personal records.
Once you think you have the right information, there are a few things to keep in mind:
How to Utilize Background Checks Legally and Effectively1. Make sure you get the consent of the candidate.
By law, you must ask someone if you can perform a background check. Most companies make sure they don’t forget this step by simply putting a section on a job application. Your company’s application should have a spot for an employee signature, and this gives you consent. In most cases this should be no problem for a confident candidate.
2. What you are checking must be relevant to the position.
It is considered an invasion of privacy if unnecessary records are accessed. It is up to the employer to decide what they need to know and what they do not need to know for the position. For example, if someone was applying for a job as a writer, checking driving records would not make sense.
3. Be careful when checking credit reports of candidates.
In most cases, it is not necessary to check a candidates credit report. However, some companies feel it is absolutely necessary for the position and go the extra step to ask for credit reports. While some states won’t disclose this information to a potential employer, others will hand over the information. You must be careful because if you look at a candidates credit reports and do not hire them, they could challenge your decision and have a good chance of pulling out with a win.
Firing an employee can sometimes be difficult and time consuming; not to mention you have to hire and train someone new in a short amount of time. In other words, employee background checks will save you money. Although it may seem like a drag, most of the information is available online so it’s quick, easy, and still effective
