As a business owner or human resource manager who is in charge of situating new employees in the workplace, it is not always easy to judge the applicants you have coming in using your own intuition. With most people really needing to work, there will always be a handful of those that will tell you everything you want to hear in order to get the job. Background checks are the best way to ensure any applicant you are considering is the type of person you want on the job. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions concerning background checks and new employees.

Does a potential employee have to know that you are running a background check?

It is required by law that you inform any potential applicant if you plan to run a background check using their personal information, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Because of the fact that you may use background check companies to run the check, you are technically bringing in an outside party that will also have personal information of en employee and therefore, it is best to make sure any intent to run checks is fully outlined during the application process.

What is usually included in a comprehensive background check?

The most comprehensive background check will include various tidbits of information about an applicant. You may get a criminal background check, credit report, and even work history information. You will get a glimpse into who this person has been, if they have been charged with a crime, and how many jobs they could have had in the past. Learning their credit information can give you insight into how responsible they have been with financial decisions, which can be important in certain businesses.

If you do not hire a person due to their background, is it considered discrimination?

In most cases, if you choose not to hire someone due to what is found during a background check, you will simply not call and employee back for an interview and therefore, the potential candidate will never know. However, by law, using this information for what is considered adverse action, such as not hiring for a position, should go along with informing the applicant of the information found. This can come in the form of a copy of the report and an explanation on your behalf as to what exactly was revealed that aided your decision.

As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure the people you allow in your business are suitable and trustworthy individuals. The right background check company can help you achieve this task and keep you within the guidelines of the law.