An Open Book?

  Career Development  

One of the first questions most people have for my firm is about what questions or information is legal vs. illegal in terms of an employee background check. Interesting the way that question is posed, isn't it? It gives the impression that people want as much information as they can get without getting themselves into hot water. Well, that is indeed the case.

You might be surprised what prospective employers can and do find out about you. That background check form that you signed authorizes them to collect information about you during a background check that can open up a flood gate of information you may have otherwise thought was beyond their reach. Today's reality is that there are very few secrets you can keep to yourself,  even though you may not have a skeleton in the closet or even be particularly concerned that your employer knows a lot about your private life. You certainly want to know that the information the employer receives is accurate, complete and not misleading.

For instance, in some states, most of what is contained in your personnel file is not confidential. An example of an open door would be the form you signed when your current employer originally hired you. That form may have in fact waived your rights to have any information gathered by that original search kept confidential and in turn you may have inadvertently …

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