Monday, March 07, 2005
Pre Employment Screening - In the News
An article by Jeff St. John of the Tri City Herald speaks to some of the issues with pre employment screening. Of particular interest are the issues surrounding privacy rights.
Tena Friery, Research Director for the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a consumer education and advocacy nonprofit notes that "(Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is) not opposed to background checks. We think they're necessary in today's society. Our main concern is accuracy and access. The employer, from where I sit, has nothing to lose by giving an employee a copy of their background check."
Problems can arise when the information on the public record is inaccurate, outdated, or when a background check picks up a criminal record belonging to someone with the same name as an applicant. Inquest handles applicant disputes very seriously, because we understand that the applicant's livelihood is at stake.
By providing a copy of the report to the applicant, they have the chance to dispute any information that may be incorrect. Only three states (California, Oklahoma, and Minnesota) give applicants the right to request a copy of their report. However, Federal law requires employers to provide a copy if 'adverse action' is going to be taken. The Federal Trade Commission handles complaints from people who feel they've been wrongly fired or not hired, she noted.
Tena Friery, Research Director for the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a consumer education and advocacy nonprofit notes that "(Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is) not opposed to background checks. We think they're necessary in today's society. Our main concern is accuracy and access. The employer, from where I sit, has nothing to lose by giving an employee a copy of their background check."
Problems can arise when the information on the public record is inaccurate, outdated, or when a background check picks up a criminal record belonging to someone with the same name as an applicant. Inquest handles applicant disputes very seriously, because we understand that the applicant's livelihood is at stake.
By providing a copy of the report to the applicant, they have the chance to dispute any information that may be incorrect. Only three states (California, Oklahoma, and Minnesota) give applicants the right to request a copy of their report. However, Federal law requires employers to provide a copy if 'adverse action' is going to be taken. The Federal Trade Commission handles complaints from people who feel they've been wrongly fired or not hired, she noted.
