Why the Need for Background Checks?

What Is Background Checking?

As the name implies, it is the process of scrutinizing the personal history of a person. This is done by scanning official and commercial records. In the past, one could do a background search by enlisting the aid of the local police.  Motor vehicle reports were a prime method of obtaining at least some information.  Today, private companies have compiled huge databases of public records and they offer to do background search on people for a fee.  The idea is get this done for the consumer at the lowest price possible.

Background checking is most often done when a person applies for a job.    Let’s face it, employers want to hire people they can trust.  They rely on these people to handle their merchandise and cash receipts.  They don’t hire them to walk away with it!  

The necessity of a background check is even more pronounced when a person applies for a sensitive position, such as jobs which will put them in close contact with children and the elderly.   People who are applying for government posts often need security clearances and this a whole different level of checking backgrounds.  

The Why

Consider these figures and you will see why it is important for companies and the government to employ background checks:

• 1 in 32 grownups in the United States has a criminal record
• There are about 6 million threats of violence in the workplace every year
• 2 million workplace assaults occur every year
• 13 people die every week as a result of workplace violence
• 36 percent of applications are falsified

With these facts, it is not surprising that companies do  a background check on applicants.  Imagine those jobs which impact you occassionally.  Who is this cable guy/gal?  Can I trust them in my home?  Do I need to be around them as they do their work?  Are they potentially violent?  If I turn my head, will they walk-off with anything?  Actually, you are putting your trust in the cable company and hoping that they ran a background check on this employee.

The Why Not

While there are a lot of valid reasons for companies to check the background of applicants they are interested in hiring, there are also several factors why some companies forego this process.  One reason is that it takes some time and money to do a background check.  Thus, small companies tend to give up background checking.

On the other end of the spectrum, some employees are against background checking believing that it is a form of invasion of privacy.  Another reason being put forward by people opposed to background checking is that people might not be able to land a good job for doing something stupid during their youth. Another could be the belief that a background check could result to illegal discrimination based on the past of a person or the people he or she is associated with in the past.  Discretion is the better part of valor!

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