Pre-employment screening can help employers ensure that there is no reason not to hire a candidate by digging into factors like employment experience, the education, and credentials that are necessary, or any past criminal convictions. Screening firms, however, do not offer employment decisions or opinions, nor does it provide legal advice or invade an applicant’s privacy. Screening does yield more factual information, provide deterrence, encourage honesty, and promote due diligence. All background checks are subject to legal scrutiny through legislation, regulation, and litigation, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), but two types of searches, criminal and social media, should be approached with extra caution since doing so can create legal difficulties if not conducted properly. Selected background screening firms should be in compliance with the data and privacy protection provisions of the screening industry accreditation rules provided by the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA).
