Employee Background

• Can an employer run a background check on a current long-term employee?

  Yes, an employer can run a background check on a current long-term employee. If the employer hires an outside company to conduct the investigation, the employer must follow the Fair Credit Reporting ...

• What kind of information needs to be provided to an employee if background checks result in an adverse hiring decision?

  ...de the employee a copy of the report and information about disputing the contents of the report. Background checks are commonplace for anyone seeking a job or a promotion. Background checks can inc...

• Do I need to obtain a release from a potential employee before running a background check?

  Generally, you are required to obtain written permission from job applicants, contractors, employees or volunteers before you can run background checks. The federal law that pertains to employment scr...

• Do I need to ask an employee’s permission before I screen their driving record?

  Permission Needed Yes, federal laws require you to obtain permission from an employee before conducting a background check, which includes driving records. However, you can make background checks a ...

• What types of information do results of a background check typically include?

  The types of information included in a background check depends on the type of background check conducted. Consumer credit background checks contain credit payment history, delinquencies and personal...

• What is the process employers undergo when conducting background checks?

  The process employers undergo when conducting background checks varies by employer. Generally speaking, employers must gather information about a prospective employee, obtain permission from the pros...

• Can I access employee driving records after they start working for me?

  Employee Driving Records Access Whether you can access employee driving records after they start working for you depends on your state, the nature of the job, and your contract with the employee. So...

• Do I have to tell an employee I’m ordering their driving record?

  Permission Required Yes, whenever you’re conducting a background check of any kind, such as a driving record search, you must not only tell the employee first, you must get their permission. ...

• What are the most common types of background checks?

  The type of background check often depends on the job you’re applying for, yet the most common types of background checks include criminal records, credit reports, and driving records. Most ...

• What type of financial information is accessible when a background check is performed?

  Employment background checks commonly contain all information available on a consumer credit report, which includes credit and payment history, liens, court judgments, and bankruptcy. However, an emp...

• Why do employers perform background checks and what do they check for?

  Employers have various reasons for performing complete background checks, including complying with the law, ensuring the accuracy of a resume, assessing competence, preventing criminal activity in the...

• What does a Department of Justice background check typically contain?

  A Department of Justice (DOJ) background check typically contains an individual’s criminal record, including all arrests and convictions as reported by law enforcement. In most states, the Stat...

• Can employers take my financial records from a background check into consideration when evaluating my employment application?

  ...pective employee, but requires the employer get the job applicant’s signed permission first. Background checks commonly contain all information available on a consumer credit report, which incl...

• What is an expungement in relation to a background check of an individual's records?

  An expungement is the removal of an infraction from your criminal history background. Under normal circumstances, any offense you have committed, even after you have served your penalty, can appear o...

• What if I want to conduct a background check further back than seven years?

  You can conduct a background check further back than seven years for items such as previous employment, personal references and in some states, criminal records. However, federal law forbids credit b...

• If I am terminated from my employment as the result of incorrect information from a background check and that information is corrected, will I be re-instated?

  There is no definitive answer to the question of whether you can get your old job back if you are terminated due to inaccurate information in a background check because a number of factors can come to...

• Can I access my own criminal and employment records that would show up on a background check?

  Yes, you are permitted to obtain the same information from a background check that an employer or anyone else would be able to obtain. Criminal records can be obtained through various governmental ag...

• How far back does a background check typically go?

  Most items in a background check go back as far as seven years. Bankruptcies appear on your consumer report for 10 years, and in some states, criminal records are indefinite. You can conduct a bac...

• Can I prevent access to my records when I am the subject of a background check?

  It depends on the circumstances and the type of background check. An employer is required by federal law to obtain your signature before conducting a background check. So you can legally prevent an e...

• When employers conduct a background check does my criminal record contain all arrests or only convictions?

  Employers who hire background check services to conduct background checks are restricted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) on the information they are allowed to receive in consumer credit repor...