A Special Report

The last thing you want as a business owner is to say, "If I had only known about this person's background, ______would never have happened. You can fill in the bank with words like "Accident", "Tragedy". "Lawsuit" or even "Death." Compamy owners have become acutely aware that hiring a applicant with an undesirable background, criminal record, who has omitted important information, or falsified credentials can carry enormous economic and legal consequences. These employers know that it is almost impossible to perform the task themselves. Other than contacting references and past employers, the employer cannot conduct the background screening due to the specialized knowledge and resources required. In addition, firms risk legal liability if the procedures used in obtaining the information infringes on the applicants legally protected areas of privacy. The solution is to enlist the services of a professional FCRA approved pre-employment screening company called a Consumer Reporting Agency.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) govern pre-screening. This law sets out various requirements and rules for pre-employment background reports called Consumer Reports. A consumer report contains a wide variety of information obtained concerning the applicant. A Consumer Report should include identification verification, education verification, criminal and civil record check, professional license check, verification of driver's license, any civil lawsuits, and military record verification if necessary. Your Consumer Reporting Agency must follow all FCRA guidelines to make sure your rights and those of the applicant are protected. In addition to FCRA, the CRA must know and follow the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and Health Information Portability and Privacy Act (HIPPA) If you are using a outside company to conduct your pre-employment screening, ask for verification that they are FCRA compliant.

As a CRA, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have to assist you in setting up a pre-employment screening company. Please feel free to contact me at sandy@goldshieldli.com.