Your #Applicant has a Criminal Record…Now what?!

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics about 30 percent of Americans have a criminal history on file. What is your first step of action when your applicant’s background report comes back with a record? There are four main points you should be addressing with each criminal record.

Using a Hiring Model or Pattern:

This is an option that helps you mold the position you are hiring for. For example, if you are hiring for a position that handles money on a regular basis you will take into consideration any theft charges, but maybe not a DUI. However, if you are hiring for a driving position the same DUI charge will be taken into consideration.

Whatever your model may be, the key here is consistency. This will help to standardize your hiring process. 

Individual Analysis:

Employers should look at every record individually and decide their plan of action. The three main factors to consider when looking at a record are:

• The nature and gravity of the offense
• The time since the offense occurred
• The nature of the position sought or held

There are other factors that your company can look at if you wish, however these are the most common. This process should be reviewed on a regular basis depending on your screening and hiring needs.

#AdverseAction

This is a small step to take but a very important one that can save your company trouble. If you deny an applicant a job based on the information returned on the applicants’ background check, you must provide adverse action notifications per the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Your duties under the FCRA are as follows:

• Provide a #Pre-AdverseAction NoticeIf you plan to take adverse action on the basis of your findings in the background report, you are required to provide a pre-adverse action notification to the affected individual BEFORE the action is taken and offer a reasonable amount of time for the individual to respond. You must send a copy of their background report and a summary of their legal rights.

• Provide an Adverse Action NoticeAfter you have decided not to hire someone because of finding in their background check and you have provided a pre-adverse action notification, you will need to provide oral or written notification that the action has taken place. You must allow a reasonable amount of time for the individual to respond before providing an Adverse Action notice.
  

  This is a very broad overview of the process. Contact #MBIWorldwide today for more information regarding Adverse Action.

Disputes

Most background screening companies make every reasonable effort to deliver accurate reports. In the event that an applicant identifies a discrepancy in their report, the applicant has the right to file a dispute with the screening company directly. The screening company will then contact their client that the applicant as initiated a dispute. The FTC requires that all disputes are reinvestigated. MBI takes all disputes very seriously and processes them as efficiently as possible.