Backgrounds Online's Knowledge Bank

Take the time to figure out who you need to check in your company and save yourself potential headaches and liability issues down the line.

When starting out with background checks, many employers have one type of position in mind, which they feel needs to be checked. Furthermore, what they need to remember when running background checks on a particular position or department, that if one applicant is background checked, then all applicants for the same position should be checked to avoid discrimination.

Furthermore, should an employer decide to check only one position, they might want to think about expanding their background checks. Any person applying for any position could possibly have a criminal record or other things in their history that might jeopardize the company’s reputation and possibly put them at risk for legal liability. An excellent example of this is an employee of the Food Network, Robert Irvine, who embellished his resume claiming that he cooked for the Royal Family in England. The Food Network did not verify his claims beforehand and Irvine was given his own television show, “Dinner: Impossible.” Now that he has admitted his fabrications, the Food Network is looking for a new host to replace him. The Food Network acknowledged in a written release that by trusting Irvine’s claims, he challenged the viewers’ trust . So, if an employer limits their background check to lower level positions, an applicant might get by them with an embellished resume, which if discovered, could lead to liability and a loss of reputation for the company.

On the other hand, limiting background checks to upper level positions and not running background checks on any other positions could put the company and other employees at risk as well. Employers might run the risk of hiring a person with a violent criminal past, subjecting the company to liability, or something as simple as hiring a person to drive who does not have a valid driver’s license.

Ultimately, the choice on who to background check is up to the employer; however, it is recommended that employees at all positions go through a background check process. This will insure the company is protected from liability, it will save money in the long run and potentially protect the company’s reputation.