In California, if you are applying for a job or are already in one, it is mandatory for your employer to do a background check of who you are. With 50% or more of all resumes submitted containing false information, it remains a law that ought to be followed by all employers. Sick employees are feared to cause problems at the workplace if wrongly hired.

What do employers investigate?

A lot of different areas in your life are examined by the employer as allowed by the law. Most companies carry out their investigation while others outsource these services to survey firms. The areas tested include:

  • Criminal/Arrest Records – Employers only considers the criminal records if they are directly related to the job you have applying. Marijuana convictions older than two years are kept off limits to employers.
  • Credit reports – Negative credit data appears on credit reports for seven years so that anyone hiring you within this period can view it. For bankruptcies, it seems for ten years although employers are warned against victimizing the bankrupt.
  • References – Employers are allowed to speak to your past references, relatives or associates about your general reputation, character and mode of living and personal characteristics. It is better known as investigative consumer report and is conducted under stringent measures protected by the law.
  • Worker compensation records – If an injury occurs and hinders an employee from their ability to perform specific job functions, then the employer uses this information to compensate them. However, the employee ought to be open enough to disclose all the info required.
  • Education records – The educational systems in California allows the employers to view the employee's student records to ascertain that what is on the resume is accurate but can only do this with the employee's consent.
  • Medical history – There are very strict requirements for preserving the confidentiality of every employee's medical information. Employers are limited to perform their research only on the employees' ability to do the specific job.
  • Immigration Records – These records are available in the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services for every employee who has moved into California.
  • Vehicle registration records/DMV Driving – Employers are allowed to obtain these details without the employee's consent. These details are available at the California DMV.
  • Other possible investigations include: the tenant history, check writing history, military records, drug test records, Social Security records, property ownership, court records, property ownership, sex offender lists and state licensing records.

It is important to note that different job positions attract various types of investigations. These are only the basic ones that most employees have to go through. This exercise is stated focused and very straight forward; no employee should feel intimidated.

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