Employee background checks

[djm]

I've never been inclined to do so before, but I'd like to get a look into the history of one of my employees. Can someone tell me a good place to start?

Thanks

[dkizer22]

Google is your friend. There are web sites that will do back ground checks.

[bitstream]

Criminal Searches - FREE criminal searches on anyone

[GatorFarmer]

They have to sign off permission if you want to try to run their credit, pull medical records, things like that.

Oh, and if you check just one employee, and not everyone, be prepared to explain why in a lawsuit. I'm sure that employee can claim to have fallen into one protected class or another and have cause for seeking redress when you check just that person and not everyone. IF you're going to do it, you check everyone. Treat everyone the same.

[sheriffoconee]

The phrase "background check" means different things to different people, what is it that you suspect, or want to know???? If there is a specific incident, there may be other ways to get the information....

[roarindan]

Originally Posted by bitstream

Criminal Searches - FREE criminal searches on anyone

this isnt free. well to see if they have a record IS free, but to see the details will cost ya. And either they havent updated their files or its not a good site, I just got turned down for a job because of a misdemeanor arrest last year and theres no record of me.none for a person i know spent time in jail for domestic battery either.

[sipowicz]

Originally Posted by djm

I've never been inclined to do so before, but I'd like to get a look into the history of one of my employees.

Thanks

Have you tried Ancestry.com?

[Ogandydancer]

here are really somethings that may be in a persons background that would have no bearing on their ability to preform the job and are no ones business but theirs and it has always stuck in my craw that an employer should be able to check anyones background and use it to deny a person a job or promotion because of some trivial thing that may have happened 20 years earlier.

[djm]

Originally Posted by sheriffoconee

The phrase "background check" means different things to different people, what is it that you suspect, or want to know???? If there is a specific incident, there may be other ways to get the information....

I don't exactly suspect anything in particular. Its just his general demeanor and some actions lately that don't quite add up, and I'm a little unsettled by it. I was just thinking that maybe a bit of digging could shed some light on it if I understood more of his background. And by "background" I mean criminal history, employment history, etc.

I'm not looking for a reason to terminate this guy, as I don't need one. I am looking to put my mind at ease, and to be able to trust him, and to figure out who exactly I'm dealing with. He's been with us for about 6 years or so, and nobody really knows much about him and he doesn't offer much, but he's just one of those guys that makes you wonder.

[djm]

Has anyone tried any of the websites that offer a report for $40, $50, $60? Are they worth it? Or am I better off contacting the appropriate courts? Looking for experiences here.

Thanks

[sheriffoconee]

This is the ONLY one I would recommend.
LexisNexis® Accurint®

[Faulkner]

Originally Posted by Ogandydancer

here are really somethings that may be in a persons background that would have no bearing on their ability to preform the job and are no ones business but theirs and it has always stuck in my craw that an employer should be able to check anyones background and use it to deny a person a job or promotion because of some trivial thing that may have happened 20 years earlier.

I would disagree. As an employer I absolutely want to know about a persons past because I do think it give some potential insight into their future actions. Sure, there can be some past issues and indiscretions that can be discussed in the interview process and then considered irrelevant, but fact of the matter is a persons character is made up of what they do when they think no one will find out. I don't apologize for doing a deep dive into the background of everyone I hire.

[reerc]

Originally Posted by GatorFarmer

They have to sign off permission if you want to try to run their credit, pull medical records, things like that.

Oh, and if you check just one employee, and not everyone, be prepared to explain why in a lawsuit. I'm sure that employee can claim to have fallen into one protected class or another and have cause for seeking redress when you check just that person and not everyone. IF you're going to do it, you check everyone. Treat everyone the same.

GF offers solid advice. I've worked in HR for a l o n g time, and one thing that has been true throughout my career: consistency is paramount. Being consistent in how you treat your employees is one of your best legal shields. Not saying you can't get sued, anyone can sue anyone else for anything, seems like, but if you've been consistent in your employment practices - even consistently wrong (it's true) - you're on more solid ground than had you done otherwise.

Good luck sir.

[JohnnieB]

Just a little food for thought.

How many employers have been raked over the coals for not doing a background check?

Does a Pizza Deliver Driver with 17 DUIs or a Convicted Child Molester working in Preschool ring any bells?

I'm retired now, but I used to ask all potential employees to sign a permission form during the first interview. If they wouldn't ---- Next Please!!!

John

[G-Mac]

Originally Posted by bitstream

Criminal Searches - FREE criminal searches on anyone

I typed in the name of someone that I KNOW was in State Prison and no results came up....

[cass]

Back ground checks are a must. I've had three employees that used fake college diplomas to get hired. (In two cases, I suspect that our HR department knew it, but they were obsessed with diversity and affirmative action, and quota was more important). All must be treated the same.

[tom turner]

THE DEATH OF A FURNITURE COMPANY . . .
Years ago I lived in the capital city of Florida, where a small woman was savagely raped and sexually abused in her home. An attractive, single and highly educated career woman (and state lobbyist), she lived alone in a nice area.

Her problem? She bought a piece of nice furniture from a local 3-store furniture company . . . and it turns out one of the two delivery guys was a multiple felon out on parole . . . for his latest rape conviction. He also lied on his employment application. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???

The bum, we'll call him "Willie" only knew of her, and her situation and vulnerability, because he'd been in her home to deliver furniture in the course of doing his job. Luckily, she remembered his face from being one of her delivery guys.

The case was a slam dunk, and the award to her was in the millions of dollars . . . and that company soon went under, causing all the good employees to lose their jobs . . . all because the company didn't do its homework to discover that bad guys lie to get jobs.

Yep, companies today MUST do their homework, although the courts and the lawyers are making it much harder ever year to really find out the true past performance and other issues that people try to hide from employers.

[m1gunner]

Say you work for a company run by liberals. They do a "thorough background search" on you years after you were hired and discover (horrors) you are what they consider a "gun nut".

So they fire you . In a right to work state this is legal.

Everyone on this site could be in this position sooner or later, what would you do?

[n4zov]

A few years back we employed several "sitters" through a local health care agency to stay with a sister who suffered with Alzheimer's. At the same time, my wife had a friend who was a State parole officer, and she casually mentioned that we were using the health care agency. She said, "Oh, they use our parolees all the time for sitters." It turned out that one of the sitters staying with my sister was just released from state prison. Naturally, we fired the agency. We now ask pointedly if agencies run background checks on their employees and if they hire anybody with a criminal record.

[Faulkner]

Originally Posted by m1gunner

Say you work for a company run by liberals. They do a "thorough background search" on you years after you were hired and discover (horrors) you are what they consider a "gun nut".

So they fire you . In a right to work state this is legal.

Everyone on this site could be in this position sooner or later, what would you do?

If an liberal employer wants to fire an employee because they own a gun, fine! As long as they don't have a problem because I fire an employee because he's gay. I agree, in a right to work state this should be legal.

[LVSteve]

Originally Posted by djm

I don't exactly suspect anything in particular. Its just his general demeanor and some actions lately that don't quite add up, and I'm a little unsettled by it. I was just thinking that maybe a bit of digging could shed some light on it if I understood more of his background. And by "background" I mean criminal history, employment history, etc.

I'm not looking for a reason to terminate this guy, as I don't need one. I am looking to put my mind at ease, and to be able to trust him, and to figure out who exactly I'm dealing with. He's been with us for about 6 years or so, and nobody really knows much about him and he doesn't offer much, but he's just one of those guys that makes you wonder.

Remember that there are plenty of folk around who have had previous employment that does not welcome too much digging. As for not knowing much about a person, well their life outside work is theirs, unless you have them in some spook/security related position. Last time I checked, it was not illegal to keep your business to yourself, although there are plenty around who wish it was. I am one of those that when somebody says "I should be able to run a check on that person any time I like and find out everything about them", I usually reply, "Be careful what you wish for".

[vytoland]

Originally Posted by djm

I don't exactly suspect anything in particular. Its just his general demeanor and some actions lately that don't quite add up, and I'm a little unsettled by it. I was just thinking that maybe a bit of digging could shed some light on it if I understood more of his background. And by "background" I mean criminal history, employment history, etc.

I'm not looking for a reason to terminate this guy, as I don't need one. I am looking to put my mind at ease, and to be able to trust him, and to figure out who exactly I'm dealing with. He's been with us for about 6 years or so, and nobody really knows much about him and he doesn't offer much, but he's just one of those guys that makes you wonder.

the person has worked for you for six years...........but you need to put your mind at ease..........because he doesn't offer much??

if he does well on the job....keep him..if not let him go. otherwise mind your own business......who the hell do you think you are.....holier than thou......get a life dude.
"we the people" have plenty of big brothers looking over our shoulders.

[djm]

Originally Posted by vytoland

the person has worked for you for six years...........but you need to put your mind at ease..........because he doesn't offer much??

if he does well on the job....keep him..if not let him go. otherwise mind your own business......who the hell do you think you are.....holier than thou......get a life dude.
"we the people" have plenty of big brothers looking over our shoulders.

WOW. Fishing, eh?

Clearly you have never been in a position where you had to be responsible and accountable for others and their actions.

Or, maybe you're just one of those who would really rather nobody got a look into your own past.

Have fun down there.

[BarbC]

OK. This was an issue about employee background checks. Let's not drag it into personal mud.

[wheelieguy]

I thought the Gestapo ended after WWII. I guess not. Perhaps we should all be issued papers to show to our employers so we can prove that we are legit.

Scary!

[handejector]

Originally Posted by wheelieguy

I thought the Gestapo ended after WWII. I guess not. Perhaps we should all be issued papers to show to our employers so we can prove that we are legit.

Scary!

Originally Posted by JohnnieB

Just a little food for thought.

How many employers have been raked over the coals for not doing a background check?

Does a Pizza Deliver Driver with 17 DUIs or a Convicted Child Molester working in Preschool ring any bells?

I'm retired now, but I used to ask all potential employees to sign a permission form during the first interview. If they wouldn't ---- Next Please!!!

John

As Kwai Chang was told:
In all loss, there is some gain.
In all gain, there is some loss.