Can an employer run a background check on an employee or potential new employee?
Background checks may be necessary for certain jobs. These include jobs involving security or trade secrets. Moreover, background checks help if the employer should later face a negligent hiring suit, and they should be done for any employee who interacts with the public, has access to homes, or has responsibility for the aged, the infirm, or children. Checks should be made fairly and without bias and should comply with state and federal regulations. They should concern only issues relating to performance of the specific job. An employer that unnecessarily pries into private information or uses unreasonable methods to get data can be sued for invasion of privacy.
