Background Checks

More businesses are now running background checks on potential employees than ever before. This in part has to do with the numerous companies that make it easier for the information to be obtained. Some states, such as Tennessee, actually sell this information to the public through their Bureau of Investigations.

Despite the fact that most individuals will have to submit to some sort of background check in their lifetime, many people do not know what can legally be included and what may not be reported to potential employers.

A background check during the process of a job search may be as simple as verifying the social security or tax payer identification number given. Many more include some form of criminal records search or a questioning of personal references. Still almost anything that can be found in public records could show up on a background check.

Legally any of the following information may be included; driving records, vehicle registrations, credit records, criminal records, one's social security number, records pertaining to one's education, court records, workers' compensation, records of bankruptcy, character references, medical records, property records, military records, state licensing records, drug test records, a record of past employers, personal references, records of incarceration, and whether or not an individual is a registered sex offender. In some cases, one's neighbors may even be interviewed.

The list of what can effect one's ability to secure employment may seem daunting, but there are laws regarding how a company may use such information to protect those who are applying for a job. These rules differ from state to state, so it is important for any concerned party to find out how their area handles such matters.

In some states, such as California, it is illegal for employers to try to obtain arrest records unless the arrest resulted in a conviction. In regards to workers' compensation, most states have made it legal for an employer to use this information only if the injury in question will interfere with one's ability to complete their required duties. Also, although employers maybe able to see that a potential employee has filed for bankruptcy, it is illegal for a company to discriminate against an individual who has.

As mentioned before, many states have variations on privacy laws and what may be reported in a background check. Still it is important to know how the information that may show up can effect one's ability to find employment.