A background check for employment, in general, is a means of looking into someone’s character, background, and past utilizing public sources of data and reports. The majority of background checks are automatically generated from commercial companies’ and federal and state governments’ data banks.
Did you know? According to statistics, 95% of firms ran background check of employment on potential employees in 2018.
There is no standardized background check, and what is checked varies depending on the company. A fast-food establishment, on the other hand, is unlikely to verify a candidate’s credit. There are no set criteria for clearing or passing a background check because each company determines what is and is not acceptable.
What Are Criminal Background Checks?
Convictions, not arrests, are the focus of criminal background checks. According to the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, “federal law does not prevent employers from asking about your criminal background” (EEOC). Under federal EEO standards, employers are barred from discriminating against employees based on criminal records. Using criminal records to make hiring decisions could be a violation of Title VII Rights Legislation of 1964, as modified (Title VII).”
1. Companies conduct police background checks to ensure that information is correct and that the best hiring selections are made.
2. Employers may employ third-party background check services.
3. Verifying work and academic credentials, speaking with references, drug screens, and credit checks are all examples of background check of employment.
| Name of the Background Checks | Timeline |
| 1. Background check of employment | 7 years |
| 2. Bankruptcy checks | 10 years |
| 3. Credit history checks | 7-10 years |
| 4. Criminal felonies | 7-10 years |
| 5. Criminal misdemeanors infractions | 5-10 years |
| 6. Driving records check | 3-10 years |
| 7. Educational history | Lifetime |
| 8. Employment history | Lifetime |
| 9. Professional license verification | Lifetime |
Employers may utilize one or even more third-party background check services. They may also conduct certain internal background checks, such as calling references. The various forms that police background checks work as follows.
1. Academic Credentials Verification: Organizations will verify that candidates hold the degree stated on the application materials by contacting academic institutions. Applicants must disclose their graduation dates as well as previous names.
2. Verifying Previous Work Experience: Employers usually criminal background check where candidates had worked before hiring them. Some prior employers may be prepared to answer inquiries, while others may merely confirm the applicant’s employment status and dates of employment.
3. Getting in Touch with References: Employers are also permitted to communicate with previous managers and coworkers unless they have been specifically instructed not to. The laws that regulate criminal background checks differ from one state to the next.
4. Performing drug tests and physical examinations: Some jobs require employees to pass a drug test and/or a physical examination. Physical examinations should be related to the evolution of the work or employee safety.
5. Skills and knowledge are evaluated: Some employers demand testing to verify special abilities. A candidate for the job may be requested to write an example email in reply to a fictitious customer complaint.
Can you imagine? In the prior seven years, approximately 6% of criminal history background checks revealed a criminal record (out of the 1.7 million checks performed).
According to the statistics, maximum companies conduct police background checks for protecting their employees and the percentage is 86%. Moreover, 52% companies conduct criminal background checks to improve their recruitments. The rest of the reasons are law and regulations, protect company reputation and prevent criminal activity with the percentages of 39%, 38% and 36% respectively.
Globalization has had a profound effect on today’s employment screening. Businesses are expanding abroad at a faster rate than ever before, forging cross-border alliances to help them achieve their goals. This rapid shift toward borderless trade also implies that businesses can tap into a virtually limitless reservoir of foreign talent. Police background checks can assist organizations evaluate & hire from a fast expanding and dynamic workforce in instances like this.
Because remote employment is now more accessible than ever, some businesses and recruiters are putting an even stronger focus on background checks including following it up with employees’ references. They are ensuring that they can maintain control over the company’s safety by doing so.
