Danger in Employers' Files

glatt · 07-18-2007, 09:50 AM

We do a fair amount of hiring each year for my dept., and we use an agency that does a criminal background check. They may also do a credit check. I'm not really sure, since our HR department handles the details.

We don't do any checking unless we have decided we plan to make an offer. Why waste money on an unknown candidate, right? Anyway, almost everyone comes back completely clean. This year, we had someone come back with a problem on her criminal record. After looking at the problem, and thinking about how much we liked her, we decided it was not a big deal, and we hired her anyway.

My point is that we want to hire people to fill our open positions. We look for ways that we can hire them. We don't look for ways to avoid hiring them. The background check is just a tool so we don't get burned.

Shawnee123 · 07-18-2007, 10:05 AM

That's the way it should work, Glatt. Good for your hire!

You know, though, you may almost always get clean background checks because the Josie Schmo's of the world wouldn't dare apply there because of their past. They may opt to work at a non-background checked place to avoid embarrassment.

It's not a perfect system, I guess is what I'm saying. But what is?

07-18-2007, 10:05 AM	#2
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	That's the way it should work, Glatt. Good for your hire! You know, though, you may almost always get clean background checks because the Josie Schmo's of the world wouldn't dare apply there because of their past. They may opt to work at a non-background checked place to avoid embarrassment. It's not a perfect system, I guess is what I'm saying. But what is? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

07-18-2007, 09:50 AM	#1
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	We do a fair amount of hiring each year for my dept., and we use an agency that does a criminal background check. They may also do a credit check. I'm not really sure, since our HR department handles the details. We don't do any checking unless we have decided we plan to make an offer. Why waste money on an unknown candidate, right? Anyway, almost everyone comes back completely clean. This year, we had someone come back with a problem on her criminal record. After looking at the problem, and thinking about how much we liked her, we decided it was not a big deal, and we hired her anyway. My point is that we want to hire people to fill our open positions. We look for ways that we can hire them. We don't look for ways to avoid hiring them. The background check is just a tool so we don't get burned.

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