What do you need to know about background checks when hiring?

California employers that conduct background checks on job applicants (and we should all be conducting background checks! 😊) must comply with a range of legal requirements—including federal rules, the new California ban-the-box law that took effect in January and even local ordinances.

The California “ban-the-box” law prohibits inquiries about criminal history until a conditional job offer has been made.

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governs background checks when information is obtained from a third-party consumer reporting agency and requires employers to send certain notices to job candidates.

When we’re working with companies to conduct an audit of their background check procedures to make sure they’re getting everything right, we also let them know they may also need to think about local ordinances such as the similar Los Angeles “Fair Chance Process.”

It’s a good idea to make sure your company is in compliance with this crucial part of any hiring process.

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