Jack Meyer over at Free Criminal Background Checks recently started an interesting discussion about the threats that employees actually pose to the companies they work for. Many employers take for granted that their employees are loyal and honest people of high standards but that is sadly not always the truth.

The story he tells is nothing new actually but still so true and has recently led to some hot discussions within the business communities. Not only in the US but also in UK and Europe where doing background checks on employees are much harder. While in the US most people can do a thourough background check on sites like the one Jack recommends, in europe it is much harder. In most european countries only police and government departments can do background checks and if an employeer demands a criminal background check to be done they have to have good reason and get it directly from the Police. No private persons can do background checks on their own like one can in the US.

This leads to the question; Should everyone be able to do background checks on anyone?

Is it really necessary to have a clean record in order to work as a receptionist for instance? One can understand that pedophiles should not work with children or that bank robbers should not work in banks or with money transportation but shouldn’t people convicted of crimes be given a second chance? Is it really necessary for Wal-Mart or McDonalds to run background checks? I believe not! Unfortunately, as long as background checks are freely available that is the way it will stay. Convicted criminals just coming out of jail often start working at the bottom of the chain. Wal-Mart. McDonalds. Wendy’s. Burger King. You name it… when they cannot even get a job there because they once did something bad then it is not only them that have a problem but the whole society, some people will say. I can say I partly agree.

Criminal background checks are crucial when you are hiring a new nanny for instance and is also often essentional when chosing new employees but it should not used without caution.