Screening Guide

"What kind of screening or background checks should be done on this applicant?" is a question asked thousands of times hourly by literally thousands of hiring managers throughout North America.

First of all, why do so many managers screen applicants? Two words. NEGLIGENT HIRING. The foundation for this area of litigation is that the law holds employers to be liable for certain acts of employees when such acts cause harm to others; and, if the employer had been more careful in hiring the employee, then the employee would not have been in the position to commit the harm.

The importance of conducting a check prior to hiring is best illustrated by this Oklahoma case. An employee of a pizza parlor raped a co-worker after he had asked her to stay and help him close the store.

The victim sued the employer, alleging negligent hiring on the grounds that the perpetrator had been convicted of sexual abuse prior to his being hired. The victim obtained a verdict of $1.5 million against her employer, including $750, 000 in punitive damages.

If an employer can show that an employee passed a pre-employment screening test and background check, then the employer will be able to show that he/she went through reasonable steps when hiring the employee, e.g. the employer took reasonable precautions. On the other hand, if an employer neglects to administer a pre-employment screening test, to verify the employee's identity (identity fraud is rampant), fails to order criminal background searches in those areas where the employee has lived and worked as an adult, overlooks contacting the applicant's former employers, to check references or the verify necessary licenses or certificates when such an investigation would have shown that the applicant had a questionable or even violent, or criminal background, the employer may be found negligent.

Search sets are a list of searches that employers will order on applicants, volunteers, temporary employees, contractors and vendors in order to prevent harm to their business, their employees, customers, and members that is relevant to the work being performed. See Background Checks software.

Pre-Employment Screening Tests are validated assessments that are predictive of a person's performance, behaviors, attitudes and tendencies toward theft, drug use, violence, racism, authority figures such as supervisors, work ethic, and many other factors. (See our Predictor16 Pre-Employment Assessments free sample offer for licensed businesses and nonprofits.)