How do you figure out what screening solutions you need?

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked Pre-Employment Screening Questions

Should I include Drug Testing in my Pre-Employment Screening?

A drug test helps identify any illegal substances a candidate may have used or been exposed to. Drug tests may be mandatory in certain industries, and others may be required by company policy. Organizations that staunchly support a drug-free environment may want to include drug testing in its pre-employment screening process.

Can’t I just screen the candidates myself?

We cannot stress strongly enough how important it is to partner with a company with expertise in this arena. Not only are there very strict laws governing how you can access certain information and how you may use it for hiring, but the “do-it-yourself” websites offer only the most superficial look into criminal records. Here are some of the problems with trying to screen applicants on your own:

  • Access to Social Security Number traces and other pertinent information is only available to consumer reporting agencies (CRAs).

  • The data you find online may not be accurate. Jurisdictions have very different reporting requirements so info available online is often incomplete or out of date.

  • Failing to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). FCRA compliance is important: not having correct disclosures, authorizations and adverse action policies can lead to lawsuits by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

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Danny D. Disagrees

Danny D applies for a job in the Left-handed Widget Factory’s warehouse managing the inventory. The company is going through some tough times, since people don’t really need as many Left-handed Widgets as they used to. To cut cost, the company decides to cut back on its once aggressive background screening program. They save a few dollars on the front end, but they never find out about Danny’s violent attack on a colleague years ago. During a disagreement on the warehouse floor, Danny lashes out at his manager, landing him in the hospital. Between the workers comp costs and the lawsuit they face once the manager’s lawyer finds out Danny has a history of violence might be enough to put the factory out of business for good.

Zack Owens