Information from background checks can help employers avoid legal claims, such as those for negligent hiring. Gathering and using this information, however, carries legal risk if not done properly.
Employee background checks are considered "consumer reports" under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and there are civil and statutory penalties for failing to comply with the FCRA's procedural requirements. The FCRA regulates the accuracy, fairness and privacy of information in consumer reports, which are defined as "any written, oral, or other communication of any information by a consumer reporting agency bearing on a consumer's credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living which is used or expected to be used or collected in whole or in part for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing the consumer's eligibility" for credit, insurance or employment purposes. Thus, the FCRA is not limited to credit reporting—it extends to criminal and civil records, civil lawsuits, reference checks and other information obtained by a consumer reporting agency.
The FCRA allows job applicants to sue employers who fail to comply with any requirement imposed by the law. For companies that solicit large numbers of applicants, failure to abide by the FCRA's requirements can result in class-action liability with millions of dollars in exposure.
FRCA Procedural Requirements
Employers must follow certain procedures under the FCRA if they intend to take adverse action such as revoking a job offer or firing an employee, based in whole or in part on the contents of a consumer report. Failure to properly execute one of these steps could result in liability under the FCRA.
*Disclosure and pre-authorization. Before obtaining a report, the employer must provide a clear and conspicuous" written disclosure to the consumer in a document that consists solely of the announcement that a consumer report may be obtained, without extraneous material like liability waivers. The employer must also obtain the applicant or employee's written authorization. Failure to properly send a stand-alone disclosure or obtain written authorization has resulted in an increase of class-action settlements against employers.
*Pre-adverse action letter/copy of report/rights under FCRA. Before making a final employment decision based in whole or even in part on the results of a consumer report, the employer must provide a pre-adverse action notice to the individual, which includes a copy of the applicant's consumer report and a document summarizing their rights under the FCRA. An example of this is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Summary of Rights.
Adverse action generally includes any employment-related decision that negatively affects the employee. The purpose of providing a pre-adverse action notice is to allow the applicant or employee a chance to discuss the background report with the employer before becoming subject to any adverse action.
*Waiting period. While not explicitly prescribed by the FCRA, courts and Federal Trade Commission guidance suggest five days is a reasonable period to wait after the pre-adverse action notice and before taking adverse action.
*Adverse action letter. After the waiting period, the employer is required to provide a post-adverse action notice to the individual, which includes the name and contact information of the consumer reporting agency that provided the background check on which the adverse employment decision was based; a statement advising the individual that the consumer reporting agency did not make the adverse employment decision and therefore cannot provide any reasons why the adverse action was taken; and notification that the applicant or employee is entitled to receive a free copy of the background check or consumer report on which the adverse action was based within a 60-day period.
Questions regarding background checks? Call 718-674-1245 or message us here.
