Background checks

[susans]

Background checks.   Do you think companies should or shouldn't do background checks?  Have you ever had any personal experiences good or bad with background checks?

[gee4]

Yes they should.

I have no idea what checks companies go through but I'm sure I have been vetted at one time or another.

In my last company we had to undergo background checks with regard to children eg.  since we managed a schools network and some of us could have been in a school doing work or attending a meeting, checks had to be undertaken to ensure we had no criminal record in that area.

[msmarieh]

I think it depends on what all is involved. In general, it's probably wise to do a criminal background check, particularly if the individual will be working with sensitive data, children, financial, etc. I think everyone should do a reference check.

However, I don't think a financial check should be done (meaning credit report) unless the person will be doing something related to financial (i.e. if they were handling large sums of money you might want to know if they were deeply in debt and might be tempted).

There's so little privacy in a job search process. Some companies definitely seem to expect you to lay your personal life wide open for their inspection and I just don't think that is right. On the other hand, there are some basic steps that companies should take to protect themselves and their clients. So my answer is definitely, positively, without doubt... "It depends". LOL

Marie

[Atlanta Z3]

I've had background, financial , drug tests, physicals and even liar detector tests.  I would prefer a company that I work for run checks.  It protects me as well the company.  Is it an invasion of privacy, probably, but do you want to work for the company?