Simple English definitions for legal terms
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An investigative background check is when an employer looks into your past before deciding whether or not to hire you or keep you in your current job. They might check your work history, education, criminal record, finances, medical history, and even your social media. Sometimes they use reports to do this, like criminal or credit reports. The government has rules to make sure these reports are fair and accurate.
An investigative background check is a process that an employer may use to gather information about a potential or current employee. This information can include:
Employers may use this information to make decisions about hiring, promotions, or retention. Background checks can be conducted through background reports, which may include criminal background reports and credit reports. The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates these reports and the consumer reporting agencies (CRA) that produce them.
For example, if a company is hiring a new employee for a position that involves handling money, they may conduct a background check to ensure that the candidate has a good financial history and no criminal record related to theft or fraud. Similarly, if a company is considering promoting an employee to a management position, they may conduct a background check to verify the candidate's education and employment history.