Background screening continues to be a pressure point

As the United States economy continues to heal from the harshest years of the Great Recession, many businesses have started to increase hiring amid stronger consumer spending and enhanced financial stability. However, many companies have been getting tied up in the background screening process, which has become more complex because of goings-on in Washington and several other states.

Bloomberg BNA recently asserted that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has been frequently updating its requirements and guidance for employers, with new documents being released in 2010, 2012 and again this year. One of the biggest points of contention when it comes to background checks today is criminal history screening, which the EEOC has worked to regulate even more stringently.

According to the news provider, one senior official from the EEOC attended a debate at an annual conference held this month by the American Bar Association and discussed his opinions regarding the new arrest and conviction records enforcement of his agency. The source explained that the senior counsel for the EEOC stated that the new guidelines are only meant to protect the rights of convicted criminals and prevent discrimination.

However, many counselors and business owners have seen the latest goings-on in the EEOC as threats to their safety. Bloomberg BNA noted that the Texas Attorney General's Office announced this year that employers in the state have the right to not hire criminals, and that the EEOC's enforcement practices do not trump employer decision-making in this realm.

As the background screening debate continues to intensify, many businesses will benefit from outsourcing the associated processes to a firm that specializes in compliance. By using a professional background check service provider, the company will often enjoy quicker turnarounds on applications, safer working environments and fewer headaches from regulators.