Background checks for employment and a wide range of other reasons have taken on a whole new meaning in the “Digital Age.” Along with a wide range of technological advances that would make the background investigations much easier, have come a host of issues relating to privacy. In fact, some states have passed laws in order to protect citizens from overly invasive pre-employment screening practices—especially when it comes to credit reports and criminal background checks over long periods of time.
Here are a few hints and tips to help keep you up to speed on how to conduct background checks while living in the digital age without getting burned. Keep these tips in mind so you can make an informed decision about your background check decisions.
1) Always take the time to make sure your current background screening practices meet the standards set forth by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or EEOC. The role of this commission is to ensure that no one’s rights are being overstepped during the pre-employment screening process and that companies aren’t practicing discriminatory hiring practices according to the current rules.
2) Be wary of using social media to pre-screen applicants. This practice has come under some serious fire since it was revealed that some businesses and colleges were asking potential employees for social media screen names and passwords as a standard part of the pre-employment screening and background checking process. While this practice isn’t currently against the law in any state, there are several states that have bills banning this practice on the fast track to being passed. Keep up with the latest news and information if this is a practice your business engages in.
3) If credit checks aren’t pertinent to the role of the person you’re hiring it might be worth thinking twice before conducting them. There are several states who have also put this common hiring practice in their crosshairs. There are some who believe that this practice leads to discriminatory hiring practices as well. Some states have already banned this practice and many others are in the process of doing so—particularly in light of the current economic situation where many hard working families were hit hard by the recession (as were their credit scores).
It’s tempting to get your hands on as much information as possible about the people who want to come work for your business. With such easy access to the information it can be a little too tempting at time. That’s why it’s so important to work with professional organizations that specialize in background checks and reporting so you don’t miss new laws or make mistakes that could prove quite costly for your business today and in the future.
Using a quality staffing agency, like TempStaff, can help save you the worry of conducting employee background checks. Let us assist you with pre-screened staff on demand.
