Background Checks
Learn about using employment background checks properly and resources for conducting background checks.
Information and advice
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has several free publications that discuss the legalities of employment checks and list links to other resources. Their Employers Guide discusses hiring outside companies to conduct background checks and has a list of other resources.
NOLO.com has an informative article on running background checks. NOLO.com provides online, do-it-yourself legal solutions for consumers and small businesses.
The Federal Trade Commission is involved with employment background checks. Consumer credit laws also regulate using credit checks for employment purposes. See Using Consumer Reports: What Employers Need to Know.
The Department of Workforce Development, Equal Rights Division provides information on Wisconsin Fair Employment and discrimination on arrest and conviction records. Your hiring process, including use of background checks, should avoid illegal discrimination.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act made all U.S. employers responsible to verify the employment eligibility and identity of all employees hired to work in the United States . The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has information on verifying employment eligibility.
Resources for conducting checks
The Wisconsin Department of Justice has a web page on background checks including information on what is available and legal in Wisconsin. They conduct criminal history record checks for a small fee. There is information on background checks for caregivers, child care providers, banking employees and the federal Volunteers for Children Act.
Wisconsin County Circuit Court public records are another resource to help a company conduct their own background checks.
The Social Security Administration has a web site for Verifying Social Security Numbers online.