Doing a background check can save a lot of headaches and hassle in the long run, especially if you’re looking to hire a new employee. Looking into the past of a prospective employee has become a standard part of modern employment screening, but what are you looking for, and how do you do it? More importantly, is it legal? Read more to learn about employment background checks.
Key Takeaways
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There are many different types of background checks.
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Background checks are often done by prospective employers, but they can be done for a wide variety of people.
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It is a good idea for an employer to do a background check to protect their company and their employees.
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There are some illegal questions and background check areas for employers.
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Employers can do a background check themselves, or they can hire a company that specializes in doing them.
What Is a Background Check?
A background check means that someone is looking into the history of an individual. There are several different aspects to a background check and several reasons people might be looking at another person’s background.
In many situations, the person who is doing the checking wants to know more about how the individual in question has behaved in the past. This might include their financial situation, their legal history, marital status, and more.
Types of Background Checks
There are a wide variety of background checks that people perform, and each one gives them different information. Some possible background checks include:
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Criminal history. Criminal records for adults are public records and knowing someone’s history with the law can be beneficial in a variety of situations.
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Sexual offender status. This falls under someone’s criminal history, but it can be that the person doing the check doesn’t care if a new neighbor has speeding tickets; they’re solely concerned about their children’s safety.
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Past employment. Employers are definitely interested in someone’s employment history, and this is a common part of employment screening.
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Education. Checking someone’s educational claims is important to many employers, and it can be important to other people too.
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Military history. Just like knowing what someone’s employment and educational background is, knowing their military history is important information as well.
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Credit check. Some employers do credit checks, but you’re more likely to encounter this type of background check when applying for a loan.
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Social media behavior. This may surprise some people, but employers are doing quite a lot of social media checks before hiring someone. It won’t surprise people that acquaintances do social media checks all the time.
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Identity checks. Unfortunately, checking someone’s driver’s license and social security has become necessary to make sure they are who they claim to be.
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Professional licenses and certifications check. Whether you’re an employer or a customer, checking to make sure someone has the appropriate licenses is totally valid.
That’s a vast number of background checks, and there are even more. These tend to be the most common ones people use.
Who Does Background Checks?
Interestingly, just about anyone can do a background check on someone else – at least to some degree. Some information is private and not readily accessible. To get this information, you’ll need to get authorization from the person who is being checked out. But some of the basic information like social media and criminal records is easy to find online. So, who is doing background checks?
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Employers
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Landlords
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People hiring contract workers
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Parents hiring childcare providers
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Neighbors
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New romantic partners
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Old friends and acquaintances
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Parents checking on their children
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Adoption agencies
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Pet adoption agencies
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Banks and other lending institutions
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Credit card companies
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Certain licensing companies
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Educational centers
The list of people who are now performing some type of background check grows regularly. There are even gamer checks for people who are involved in video gaming.
Why Should an Employer Do a Background Check?
Most people will have at least one in-depth background check in their lives, usually by an employer. They may have several of them throughout their life but having one done by an employer is commonplace.
For employers, doing a background check is just a smart business. They can face serious liability issues if they don’t do their due diligence and make sure that they’re making a good hire. Some of the best reasons employers should do background checks include:
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Keep workplace and other employees safe
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Ensure the employee has the skills and education necessary
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Increase the likelihood of a good hire
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Reduce losses due to bad hires
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Deepen the knowledge of an individual through multiple sources
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Verify information provided
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Look for a conflict of interest
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Compare characteristics of desirable candidates to past actions
It might seem unfair to some people to be judged on their past actions, but the employer is doing the best they can to ensure they’re hiring great people for their company.
Illegal Background Checks for Employers
Before learning the steps of performing a background check, it’s important to understand what you can and can’t review. Employers cannot ask anyone for their medical information if they haven’t offered them the job. They also cannot ask for genetic information and information that could be tied to family medical history.
All candidates that have an equal chance of getting the job need to be asked the same questions and have the same background checks. Otherwise, you open yourself to the risk of being sued for discrimination.
What Background Checks Can Employers Do?
Many companies use background check agencies; if this is the case, they need to get the employee’s signed authorization to do the check. If they’re doing a deep dive themselves, they still need a signed authorization.
Once this is in hand, an employer can look into your employment history and your education. They can also check public records, financial and credit histories, and your public social media activity.
How to do a Background Check
Now that you know what you can and can’t do, here are the steps to performing a background check for employment.
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Inform the person that you’re doing a background check
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Obtain a signature that confirms they know you’re doing a background check, and they authorize you to do it.
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Ask the potential employee to give you their full name, birthdate, and social security number.
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Check with an employment attorney to confirm what you can request
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Hire a background check firm that is familiar with the laws in your area
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If you don’t hire a firm – check the following on your own
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Request a credit history (will need signed authorization)
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Check their social media accounts
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Look up your state or local area’s online criminal database
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Call references and employers
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Check social security number for all names and aliases
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Check sexual predator registries
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Once you have your information, it’s customary to allow the potential employee to respond to any inconsistencies in the reports. Remember that all candidates who have made it to this point and are potential hires need to be treated the same, which means they all need a background check.
Background Check FAQ
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Is it legal to do a background check on an employee?
Yes, it is legal to do a background check on employees and prospective employees. It should be noted that you cannot treat people differently; all candidates for a job who have reached the level of a background check need one.
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Do I need permission to do a background check on someone?
Yes, if you’re doing a pre-employment background check, you’ll need signed permission to access certain information. You do not need permission to check the public record and public social media accounts, but it is good etiquette to let them know you’ll be doing it.
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Can I hire an agency to do a background check?
Yes, there are many agencies that specialize in background checks, and they’re often used by employers. If you’re going to use an agency, make sure you use a reliable one who knows what the laws are in your region.
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How long does it take to do a background check?
Most information found in a background check comes back in a week, but it might take a bit longer for some records. It’s not a bad idea to ask how long it will take to get information that must be requested from outside areas. This will give you a better timeframe.
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What information do I need to do a background check?
Most background checks will require a full name and any aliases, a social security number, and a birthdate. You may also want to ask for a list of employers that you can call, references, and how long they’ve lived at their current address. This additional information can help a bit more.
Author
Kristin Kizer
Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.
