When you are applying for a new job, it is quite possible that your potential employer will want to know a lot about you as a person. They will want to know your previous working experience and they may also be interested in what your interests are outside of work in order to get a picture of who you are.
In addition to this, your potential employer may also want to conduct a background check on you before deciding to hire you. This is a legal procedure in theory, however, there are many protective regulations for potential employees in regard to background checks. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) makes sure that people do not have their information exploited.
How does the FCRA protect me?
Under the FCRA, employers must give job applicants and employees advance notice that they are going to be conducting a background check and that this background check might influence the decision-making process in terms of making a hire.
After this notice has been sent to the applicant or employee, the recipient must then reply with express permission granting the employer to conduct a background check.
After the background check has been conducted, the employer must notify the applicant or employee, announcing that they complied with all FCRA requirements and that discrimination will not be present in any decisions made.
If you believe that an employer in the state of Minnesota acted unlawfully when obtaining your information through a background check, it is vital that you stand up for your rights under the FCRA.
