Criminal History
Background Checks for Non-Full Time Employees
Most employers conduct background checks on prospective employees during the hiring process to find out if applicants have a history of criminal convictions. This information can be an important factor in the hiring decision. Conducting background checks is required by law before an offer of employment can be extended to an applicant in certain industries.…
Read MoreWhat Is Included in Background Checks for Teachers?
Teachers are in a unique position because they work with children, some of whom may be very young. Administrators, parents, and the government want to do everything they can to protect children in school and ensure that they are educated in a secure environment. One way to keep kids safe is to conduct background checks…
Read MoreHUD Issues New Rules on Background Checks for Tenants
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued new guidance on the use of background checks to evaluate applicants for rental properties. Building managers may now be breaking the law if they automatically refuse to rent to people who have criminal records. According to HUD, such a policy cannot be justified. Many landlords…
Read MoreAre Summer Camps Required to Conduct Background Checks?
The school year will be over soon, and many parents rely on summer camps for child care while their kids are out of school. Safety is always a primary concern for parents when deciding who should care for their children. Many parents assume that everyone who works with kids is required to undergo a background…
Read MoreDo Ban the Box Laws Prohibit Background Checks?
Many states, cities, and counties across the United States have passed laws to “ban the box.” The box in question refers to inquiries commonly found on job applications about whether or not an applicant has ever been convicted of a crime. In areas with ban the box laws, employers may no longer include that question…
Read MoreBackground Checks for Seasonal Employees
With the holiday season here, many businesses, especially retailers, are hiring seasonal employees. Business owners and managers sometimes decide to forego the standard background checks they conduct with regular employees when hiring seasonal workers. Some believe background checks are unnecessary since the employees will only be working for a short time and think they can…
Read MoreScreening Process for Nannies
Hiring a nanny is a necessity for many parents, but it can be a source of anxiety. You want to choose someone who is experienced, who shares your philosophy on childrearing, and who can build a strong relationship with your children. You also need to do your due diligence to make sure you hire someone…
Read MoreBackground Checks for Renters
According to federal law, a landlord may conduct a full background check on people who are interested in renting an apartment. The federal Fair Housing Act and state laws prohibit landlords from discriminating on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, and disability when conducting background checks. A landlord must use the same background check…
Read MoreFoster Parents and Background Checks
We are looking at another example of the wide-ranging impact of background checks. This time it involves Native American children who are waiting for foster parents. The pool of eligible parents will be subject to background checks. It’s the result of the Native American Children’s Safety Act passed through Congress in June. The bill requires…
Read MoreUnpaid Workers & Background Checks
Here’s another example of how background checks are used beyond the usual job screening process. A school district in Pennsylvania has approved guidelines requiring background checks for school volunteers. We’ve been down this road before. This is just another view of how background checks have become a crucial part of job screening, even when…
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