| Hiring managers are responsible for the quality of | | | | service that is comprehensive and exhaustive. |
| worker that they hire into a company; during a | | | | The Employee's Perspective On Criminal |
| competitive and tough economy, those decisions | | | | background checks |
| become even more critical. Hiring and human | | | | When filling out a job application, candidates are |
| resources personnel should be performing a | | | | self reporting on their background and history as |
| criminal background check on qualified candidates, | | | | well as prior crimes or convictions. It is always in |
| but what should they do with the information | | | | their best interest to be completely honest or risk |
| gained? What about the information a candidate | | | | losing a job due to being dishonest rather than |
| supplies, or does not supply, on their application? | | | | any actual legal condition. Honesty is always |
| Sometimes, the question boils down to, "should I | | | | paramount when trying to gain the trust of a new |
| hire someone with a record?" | | | | employer and an incorrect application can cause |
| Employer's Rights And Responsibilities With A | | | | termination even years down the line. |
| Criminal Background Check | | | | As an employer, you can't always expect every |
| From a legal perspective, hiring managers could be | | | | applicant to be honest. There is a certain stigma |
| held responsible for not conducting criminal | | | | that comes with a record and some people might |
| background checks and learning of a past violent | | | | be ashamed to self report. It is understandable to |
| crime if an employee ends up harming someone | | | | be nervous in this situation, so as a human |
| at work. On the other hand, it is also illegal in | | | | resources representative, always stick with a |
| some states to dismiss an application solely based | | | | criminal background check. |
| on a past record of a crime. Human resources | | | | When Crimes Do Not Have To Be Reported On |
| representatives can be in a tough situation either | | | | An Application |
| way. | | | | There is a wrinkle when it comes to reporting |
| The best way to use this situation to the | | | | one's history on an application. The laws vary by |
| company's advantage is to consider the type of | | | | state, but some crimes do not have to be |
| business or job responsibilities versus the type of | | | | reported. Even if criminal background checks |
| crime that was found during a criminal background | | | | return a hit, the applicant might not be required to |
| check. Hiring managers want to hire the best | | | | report that on an application. Check with local and |
| person to fill a position and add value to their | | | | state agencies or employment board to know the |
| company, regardless of whether that candidate | | | | applicable policies. |
| has a crime on their record. If a past crime would | | | | For example, an arrest without a current or |
| impact job functions directly, this person would | | | | pending conviction would not have to be listed on |
| not be a good candidate and denying them | | | | an application. Likewise, if an offense has gone to |
| employment on this ground would not be illegal. | | | | trial but a decision has not been handed down by |
| For example, drug related crimes might preclude | | | | the court, this offensive would also not have to |
| someone from working stock in a pharmaceutical | | | | be listed. Some states also have specific guidelines |
| warehouse facility. | | | | depending on the type of crime, whether it is a |
| Overall, highly effective hiring personnel should | | | | felony or misdemeanor, how long ago it occurred, |
| evaluate every person impartially and give those | | | | and if the person has been rehabilitated. |
| who have prior crimes on record a fair shake, but | | | | Bottom line, hiring managers need all the |
| not at the expense of the customers, employees, | | | | information they can get, including knowing local |
| or company's well-being. To make that call, it is | | | | laws and obtaining a comprehensive criminal |
| necessary to use a criminal background check | | | | background check. |