Do You Have to Submit to a Background Check Prior to Employment?

Following the world events of September 9, 2001, an increasing number of employers are requiring background checks as part of the pre-employment interview process. Certain jobs that require a security clearance may require a background check mandated by state or federal law. More often than not, employers today are being extra cautious to uncover any liabilities about a prospective employee prior to hiring him.

An employer may not conduct a background check without your written permission. Realize that if you feel uncomfortable giving this permission, you may not be able to go farther in the interview process to be considered for the job in question. But realize that the information provided to a prospective employer during a background check can also work in the employee’s favor, proving that they are a reliable and responsible individual who would be a credit to the company if hired.

For some employees, a background check is a simple matter of verifying previous employment references and that the individual is who he says he is, and is legally entitled to work in this country. For jobs requiring security clearance or having special considerations such as working with small children, a background check may go into greater detail to ensure that the applicant has no criminal record or does not show up on any state sex offender databank list.

If a job involves driving company-owned vehicles, a background check can reveal if the applicant has a current driver’s license, any past history of accidents, or any known drug or alcohol violations that could affect his ability to drive as part of his job. Some jobs such as foodservice may legally require a clean bill of health and a background check could reveal if the applicant has a chronic medical condition that might prevent them from doing their job either working around or serving food. A background check can reveal an applicant’s credit record, bankruptcy history and history of litigation, all of which might influence their ability to perform a job involved in overseeing finances.

In a world that is increasingly security conscious and complex, submitting to a background check should be viewed as an inconvenience rather than as a violation of privacy. More often than not it is merely used to reassure the employer that the employee presenting himself as truthful, reliable and experienced is just that.