Background Check Alexandria VA

Trying to maintain ones anonymity in today’s super-information society is nearly impossible, especially if you are applying for a job. Today background checks are a common practice in hiring and screening new employees. Investigative employment screening services are eager to assist employers in wanting to know more about the background of the employees they hire.

Personal History And Background Services – Employer Screening

Companies as well as individuals look to background and screening services for different reasons. The most widely used is pre-employment screening through the investigation of criminal and civil background checks, education and credential verification, prior worker-compensation claims and prior employee-employer law suits.

Screening Financial History Of Job Applicants Becoming More Popular

In the past five years, employers have been widely using investigation and background screening services to screen out job applicants who have a poor credit and financial history in order to determine a job applicant’s level of responsibility and moral character. While this might not be a fair or accurate predictor of future job performance, most employers seem to think if you are not reliable enough to pay your bills in a timely fashion, you will likely not be a reliable and trustworthy employee.

In this regard, employers have been checking to see if the job applicant has any prior bankruptcy filings, tax liens and money judgments. However as the economy continues to falter and unemployment rates continue to rise, more and more people are being forced into filing for bankruptcy or are facing home foreclosure. Given the current economic conditions however, one needs to question whether a prospective employee who has had a history of financial trouble is any less valuable to an employer then someone who has not. We do not believe there is viable correlation between the two.

Why Prior Criminal Records Are Considered Probative – Negligent Hiring

Today almost all job applications for employment require that the job applicant disclose whether he or she has a criminal record. This can put an applicant into a no-win quandary. If a job applicant does not tell the truth about their past, there is the risk of being terminated for having lied on the job application. Conversely, if an applicant is candid and honest enough to admit to having a criminal record, it is likely the applicant will not get the job.

Under law, all employers must exercise due diligence in its hiring practices or run the risk of being sued for negligent hiring should the employee cause an injury to another. If an employee's actions hurt or injure another person, the employer may be found liable if the employer knew or should have known of the employee’s dangerous propensities before hiring that employee. This threat of liability gives employers reason to be cautious in checking an applicant's past.

Criminal records cover not only felonies but also misdemeanors. Certain types of crimes are true red flags for employers such as those with prior drunk driving convictions especially if the employment requires driving. Failure to screen for such risks can mean the employer is left open to liability should an employee injure another in the course and scope of employment.

Alternatively, it can be argued that society serves a valuable goal when it assists people who have been convicted of a crime to rehabilitate, serve their debt to society and then to find and keep a job to support themselves and their family. In this regard, it is becoming increasingly more problematic for an ex-offender to become a law abiding, tax-paying citizen without a job. It can turn into a vicious cycle.

Each state has different rules concerning the right of a criminally convicted offender to expunge ones criminal record. However, many dangerous felonies are not expugnable in most states. In this regard, one is urged to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney for assistance in clearing their criminal record.

Motor Vehicle Disclosure Of Driving Violations – DMV Reports And Records

Most Motor Vehicle Reports disclose a person’s driver’s license record and current status from all fifty states. Companies with employees that operate a motor vehicle for business purposes can reduce risks and potential lawsuits by identifying high- risk drivers before they are hired and put on the road. The state driving report provides the following information to employers:

Speeding Violations
Reckless Driving
Chargeable Vehicular Accidents
DUI – Alcohol and Drugs
Driving Suspension
Driving Revocations
Violation Points

State And Federal Job Screening – Common Carrier Employment Concerns

Certain types of government jobs require a high-level of public safety and security training. Job applicants at the state and federal level therefore undergo a substantial background investigation as a condition to employment. This is especially true if the work involves homeland security or air travel functions.

For information on how to legally expunge or seal a criminal record before you apply for employment visit GotTrouble.com. and consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer.