9. Background Checks
9.1. Introduction Because employees work in customers’ homes and drive cars that you own, you must carefully screen each new employee. To minimize risk in your business and ensure that the employee is bondable, you must use a background screening service and conduct past employment references check for all hires. Most of the necessary disclosure forms can be obtained from the reporting agency being utilized. The background checks that MOLLY MAID owners use most frequently are: Criminal history reports Driving record Past Employment References
9.2. Employee Privacy Considerations
At all times you must follow procedures that safeguard background check materials and protect confidentiality. A lack of such procedures can compromise the integrity of background check results and can raise serious legal and ethical questions. Keep each employee’s file in a locked drawer to which only you (not the supervisor) have a key.
9.3. Release and Authorization to do Background Checks
It is essential that your applicant approve the background investigation process by signing a release and authorization form. Make sure to have all applicants sign the Release and Authorization Form as part of the application process. This form has also been found to be a very effective tool for pre-screening as it discourages people with a questionable history from continuing with the application process. It communicates to the applicant that you regard the quality of your employees very seriously. Keep the signed release and authorization form in the employee’s personal file as proof of the applicant’s authorization to release information on her background. Keep the file in a locked drawer to which only you have access. See the Employee Forms section of this manual for a copy of the release and authorization form.
9.4. Criminal History Reports
Employers are being held increasingly liable when an employee with an evident history of a certain type of criminal activity commits a crime during the course of employment. This “negligent hiring doctrine” imposes on the employer a duty to exercise reasonable care in selecting employees. This report checks for criminal convictions in the past seven-year period for the location searched (county or state). Please note that not all criminal activity will negate their ability to be employed by MOLLY MAID. Please review
MOLLY MAID Personnel Manual Copyright 2015, Molly Maid, Inc.
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