| As with any state, if you intend carrying out a | | | | this? |
| background check Texas has its own state laws | | | | If you are employing an accountant you will likely |
| on what is required. Most of these, however, | | | | want to carry out an additional credit check, and |
| refer to when checks must be carried out, such | | | | other common background checks Texas |
| as the requirement of the University of Texas | | | | employers carry out are employment history, to |
| Health Science Center that all new students should | | | | find if there are any gaps that have not been |
| be subject to a criminal background screening | | | | volunteered in the résumé, and history of |
| before being admitted. | | | | residence. Some people claim to have been living |
| Texas is also very strong on screening of day | | | | out of state to cover up periods in penal |
| care employees, and rightly so. The costs of bad | | | | institutions. You could also check out court |
| or negligent hiring can be very high for a local | | | | records, though this is not easy to do out of |
| authority as it can be for a private company. In | | | | state without actually traveling to the court. |
| fact a serious negligent hiring lawsuit can destroy | | | | Without that, it can sometimes be difficult to |
| a small company, which is why background | | | | thoroughly check out someone’s criminal |
| screening is so important these days. By carrying | | | | records since there is no national criminal database |
| out the task properly you can reduce hiring | | | | that can be accessed by embers of the public. |
| problems within your company, and reduce risks | | | | Even Texas state records are only as good as |
| to your staff and your company. | | | | those counties that send details in. Frequently it is |
| In Texas, as in most other states, the candidates | | | | only by checking out court records that you can |
| themselves have certain rights. You must notify | | | | find out if anybody has actually been in prison or |
| any potential employee of the fact that they will | | | | not. Some courts have electronic systems |
| be subject to such employment screening checks, | | | | available for carrying out such searches, but with |
| and must also respect the rights to privacy of | | | | others you have to thumb through the paper |
| the potential employees. Additional to that, if you | | | | records to find what you are looking for. Some |
| intend having the background checks carried out | | | | courts will post the results to you while others |
| by a third party, then in Texas, as anywhere else | | | | insist on you picking them up personally. |
| in the USA, you are obliged to receive signed | | | | In such cases it is generally more convenient to |
| permission from the person involved before you | | | | employ professionals to do the job. The |
| can do so. This is not necessary if you carry out | | | | professionals know all the legal obligations that |
| the checks yourself, either personally or through | | | | have to be observed, both from your point of |
| another employee within your company. | | | | view and from that of the subject. Small |
| Employment background checks are essential | | | | businesses, however, often cannot afford to hire |
| since many applicants falsify the information | | | | a professional investigator to carry out the |
| provided in their application forms, and what you | | | | screening and will have to do it themselves. |
| decide to verify will depend to an extent on the | | | | You are not expected to investigate every |
| type of work to be done. Your main obligation is | | | | possible aspect of a job applicant’s life history, |
| to make sure that the prospective employee is | | | | but you are expected to carry out the basic |
| qualified to work in the USA, but you have to | | | | background checks that would throw up facts |
| make sure that he or she does not have a | | | | about their criminal history, or whether or not |
| propensity to inflict violence on others. You will | | | | they have lied about their past work experience |
| have other checks to carry out depending on the | | | | or even residential history. If you are employing |
| job on offer. | | | | someone in a day care or child care center then |
| The criminal background check is necessary as | | | | you have a legal obligation to do so. Texas law |
| protection for your existing employees, and if you | | | | demands it. |
| fail to do this and an employee is assaulted, then | | | | If an incident occurs, and you are unable to |
| you will be found negligent. You are responsible | | | | demonstrate that you had carried out reasonable |
| even if your employee is working out of the plant. | | | | pre-employment screening or the proper |
| Just a short while ago the Texas Supreme Court | | | | background checks Texas employers are |
| found cleaner company Kirby negligent for failing | | | | expected to carry out, then you are likely to be |
| to carry out an adequate screening of an | | | | found liable for the results of negligent hiring. The |
| independent contractor who raped a woman in | | | | penalties are commensurate with the crime |
| her home while demonstrating a vacuum cleaner. | | | | carried out by the employee, but can include fines |
| It cost them $160,000. Could your business afford | | | | of many hundreds of thousands of dollars. |