Conducting Background Checks

Background checks have become a standard part of pre-employment screening across a variety of fields. Federal and state laws authorize employers to perform these checks, and in some cases even require them for certain positions. However, authorization to perform a background check should not be interpreted as carte blanche permission to pry into an applicant's personal affairs. State laws vary on the matter and in some cases are more restrictive than federal laws. Therefore, it would be prudent for an employer to seek the advice of an attorney prior to designing a plan for background checks. Provided here, however, is a general guideline to keeping background checks legal. Read more