Current topic:
Identity Entanglement
Cheap Background Check Leads to "Identity Entanglement"
April 2008
It's every would-be employee's worst nightmare - you work hard to make a good impression, submit an honest and detailed resume, meet for the interview, and then right on the verge of getting the job of your dreams a cheap background check comes up with false information about you.
And now it's such a common problem legal experts are calling it "identity entanglement." It's yet another reason why only quality background investigations should be trusted by employers, landlords, and lenders.
At MSNBC's Red Tape Chronicles, author Bob Sullivan comes to much the same conclusion. He runs a cheap background check on himself, finding references that label him as a potential child molester with a brother who's a killer. The problem, as he sees it, is "dirty data."
As he explains it, "dirty data" is the tons of personal and public information that is "secretly collected, inaccurately transcribed, [and] sloppily connected." When employers choose a cheap check over real background investigations, they're running the risk that what they'll find is dirty data.
Or even worse, they'll find inaccurate data that allows just the opposite to happen - instead of seeing the dangerous child molester, they find information that suggests an inappropriate individual is a safe hire.
The lure of the cheap background check is the cost, but any employer needs to know that by choosing this route they're running the risk of encountering false or misleading information.
And the victim of such a mishap has few options either. In many states and counties, someone who contests the information on their report must go to court for each and every piece of false information. In some cases, this can mean dozens of court appearances and a great deal of time spent clearing their name.
The "dirty data" solution lies with employers and employees who refuse to accept shoddy results and cheap background checks. Employees and employers alike should request quality background investigations in order to minimize the likelihood of "identity entanglement," and make a great deal of noise if those requests go unmet.
Call EBI to discuss background screening for your firm through a custom program to suit your company's needs.
Our thorough background screening programs can make the difference in helping ensure you're candidates are who
they say they are
Criminal records searches. Random drug testing. Reference checks. Everything for a comprehensive picture of your prospective employees.
Call us at 800.324.7700 for details.
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