Those who choose to run their own pre-employment background checks could face legal ramifications, such as lawsuits alleging non-compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A few considerations employers should make include getting legal advice and checking with insurance; developing a policy; using an FCRA-compliant service that specializes in pre-employment checks; notifying applicants that the company conducts pre-employment background checks, drug screenings or other tests; making a contingent job offer following the successful completion of a background check; conducting a comprehensive background check, carefully reviewing and considering the findings; following up on results; being consistent; and saving records.
