What is meant by background check?
Background screens (or checks) are a way for employers to verify information about an applicant and/or current employee, getting a comprehensive understanding of who they are to ensure they make a safe hire. For many employers, a background screen is usually conducted as a simple pre-employment process, but depending on the industry and position they can become quite complex. Background screens can typically include employment/education verification, driving records, credit reports, or even social media in some cases. When combining products to create a custom program, employers can better maintain compliance and meet industry standards.
When testing a non-DOT employee, can they have a single specimen collection?
If the employee is non-DOT regulated, then yes you may have a single specimen collection. But for those who are DOT regulated, you cannot. (Please see Part 40 below).
40.17 How does the collector prepare the specimens?
a. All collections under DOT agency drug testing regulations must be split specimen collections.
b. As the collector, you must take the following steps, in order, after the employee brings the urine specimen to you. You must take these steps in the presence of the employee.
- Check the box on the CCF (Step 2) indicating that this was a split specimen collection.
- You, not the employee, must first pour at least 30mL of urine from the collection container into one specimen bottle, to be used for the primary specimen.
- You, not the employee, must then pour at least 15 mL of urine from the collection container into the second specimen bottle to be used for the split specimen.
- You, not the employee, must place and secure (i.e., tighten or snap) the lids/caps on the bottles.
- You, not the employee, must seal the bottles by placing the tamper-evident bottle seals over the bottle caps/lids and down the sides of the bottles.
What questions do they ask on a background check?
Since each background check can be customized to meet the needs of the employer, job position, and state laws, questions can vary according to what is included in the check. For example, if the employer chose to include an education verification, then the candidate would be asked questions regarding what school they attended, the years they attended, when they graduated, what degrees (if any) they acquired, etc.
What is included in a background check?
Background checks often include a criminal history search at a minimum. However, depending upon the nature of the job, for persons in more sensitive, high-level positions or those dealing with vulnerable populations, it may also include investigation of credit reports, sanctions checks, sex offender checks, and/or driving history.
Background checks also may include verification of previous employment, education, professional licenses, and personal or professional references.