While it is a good practice to utilize the state system to conduct a background check, what does the agency plan to do if the applicant is new to the state of Alabama? The state system does not include records from any other states. It also contains arrest records, which in it of themselves can cause an employer issues with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. I think that many employers miss this issue too when they rely simply on the state system, instead of contracting a third party background screening company to conduct a true county search based upon the residential history of the applicant. Read more…

If you are an employer, you want the best employment background check that money can buy, unless your budget does not allow it. As a Human Resource manager, you search the internet for the background check that offers the most coverage, provides the most detail and will still fit within the budget set forth by management. This typically leads you to looking for a “nationwide” criminal background check, because after all, if it is nationwide then it must be the best! Sadly, these checks are far from the best, and in many cases may cause employers to hire an applicant with a record and place their company at a higher risk for lawsuits. Read more…