need help hiring quality personnel

[willyj]

How does everyone else go about doing background checks on prospective employees.
In Mass. all we can get are driving records.
We've had one new employee whose criminal record would of put Al Capone to shame, and just like Al he's on his way to jail.

[bphgravity]

Are you permitted to require drug testing? I know not all criminals are drug users, however this would reduce a certain number of unsavory applicants. I also believe here in Florida a criminal background check cannot be requested by an employer unless you are going to work with minors or handling hazardous materials, however lawyers seem to have ways of doing this for you.

[petersonra]

I'd be inclined to hire a third party to handle this kind of thing.

A lot of criminal records are readily available on the internet, but often they are not easily found.

You can usually get a criminal records search done over the internet from various places for less then $20.

Some states seem to feel that you should not know if the guy you hired is an ax murderer or not, and may restrict your ability to make decisions based on criminal history.

[willyj]

Thanks for the info, however here in Mass. we can not get criminal records even on the internet. We tried to get Cori reports but because we aren't certified health or schools they won't release them to us.
We are now enforcing drug testing in hopes of weeding out unwanted employees.

[petersonra]

Originally posted by willyj:
Thanks for the info, however here in Mass. we can not get criminal records even on the internet. We tried to get Cori reports but because we aren't certified health or schools they won't release them to us.
We are now enforcing drug testing in hopes of weeding out unwanted employees. Court records are public information in every state. Some states do their best to make it difficult for you to easily access it though. There are companies that specialize in this kind of thing. It's best to let them handle getting this info for you IF you are allowed to use this kind of info in your hiring process. An amazing number of states consider it none of your business if a potential employee is an ax murderer or not.

[George Stolz]

Potential employers don't have enough respect for a head well-severed, that's the real problem. :D

It was an accident, anyway. I just dropped the axe 14 times full swing. He looked like a tree, to me.

To input something meaningful, I am amazed that a background check for $20 would produce much. Power of computers, I guess.

[ March 08, 2005, 07:14 PM: Message edited by: georgestolz ]

[willyj]

Update! After a long search our attorney has found a way to get full criminal reports on our prospective employees at a cost of $4.50 each.

[charlie b]

Perhaps your attorney can also advise you with regard to the types of questions you are not permitted to ask a prospective employee (such as, "Do you have a criminal record?") and the types of information that you are not permitted to take into account in your hiring decisions.

[ken987]

Every job application I ever filled out had an area asking about criminal history.

[willyj]

Charlie B,
We have a question on all of our applications that asks if the applicant will allow us to obtain a criminal history, and requires a signature.
Thank you for the advice.

[charlie b]

I have deleted two posts. Neither was inappropriate or un-professional in its own right, and I suspect that one or both was intended in jest. However, both included comments with regard to positive or negative aspects of obtaining support from union shops. The moderators are under explicit direction to allow no discussions of any kind on that topic.

[bradleyelectric]

our attorney has found a way to get full criminal reports on our prospective employees at a cost of $4.50 each. so how do we get this information?

[willyj]

Our attorney has informed us that because of the nature of the search we are better using an attorney. So I would say check with your attorney they have some access to this web site more than likely through the courts.

[bradleyelectric]

I don't have an attorney anymore. I stopped smoking that stuff.

[bradleyelectric]

kidding :cool:

[sparkster]

I used to have a very loose hiring practice ask a few questions, tech trade stuff, see what they knew, give them a piece of 3/4 pipe ask them to mak an off set at whatever with a 90 at another pre determined measurement, then throw them into the field. Used to, now I make sure I call ex employers and see why they are an ex, this cut down who I hired immensely.

[tryinghard]

Here in California if you are working in schools a background check is required for staff working with school kids; staff working outside of construction fenced areas.
We have to get fingerprinted then mail these fingerprint cards to the Department of Justice. It is the Department of Justice who does the background checks, and they send the results to your account holder within your company. They cost about $50.00 each.

[speedypetey]

Originally posted by charlie b:
Perhaps your attorney can also advise you with regard to the types of questions you are not permitted to ask a prospective employee (such as, "Do you have a criminal record?") and the types of information that you are not permitted to take into account in your hiring decisions. I must inject an opinion on this. It is a sad sign of the times that this post even needed to be written.

What ever happened to; speaking your mind, "Honesty is the best policy", being accountable for ones actions,....common sense???!! It is amazing that we must watch what we say as some thin skinned, or greedy gold digger, might consider action against someone over something they said or asked.

I am still only a one man shop, but I rue the day I have to hire someone. Taxes, insurance, liabilities, lack of help worth hiring, even the threat of legal action if the wrong words are spoken.
I will stay small as long as I can remain my own boss and put food on the table thank you very much.

[jfls41]

I was working in a factory in Chicago and was shooting the breeze with one of the employees of the factory. He was from one of the East Europe nations but not sure which one, cant remember. He said applying for a job in America reminds him of what it was like living in a communist country, referring to the scrutiny of background checks, etc...)

[jfls41]

oh, the other thing he said was, "all I remember is black sedans always trying to run me down, I am glad I got out of there"

[highkvoltage]

I am going to post this again. The main reason I became a Union EC is because I have seen the nightmares other EC's were having hiring qualified people. Now I not saying union is better than nonunion but I have no trouble getting a qualified electricans when ever I need one. I just call the union hall and they send some one out. I find it to be easier.

[ April 08, 2005, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: highkvoltage ]