According to Savvydata, Inc., one of the background check service providers used by NIA/NM:

18% of employee applicants supplied false Social Security numbers
33% have used other names
32% have lived at addresses not listed on their employment application
30% lied about their criminal records
39% misrepresented their education history
28% misrepresented their prior employment history
23% had serious motor vehicle violations: drugs, alcohol, revoked licenses
16% lied about Worker's Compensation claims.

To ensure that your company is considering the best possible candidates in order to provide a safe and productive environment for the company, it's employees and its clients/customers.

Better applicants' yields better candidates, which results in the best hiree, which reduces employee turnover, which prevents disruption in productivity, thus reducing unnecessary costs.

To protect the employer from Negligent Hiring and/or Negligent Retention liability

Negligent Hiring liability pertains to information an employer possesses or ought to have possessed prior to hiring. For example: an employee in a senior care facility committed an act of abuse and no background check had been conducted which would have showed a history of abuse.

Negligent Retention liability deals with information an employer acquires or ought to have acquired after the individual has been hired. For example: an employee who is driving for company is involved in serious accident and a regular check of the driving history would have revealed violations or revocation.

Every employment candidate must be subject to the same screening process

This will prevent complaints of discrimination. Company's employment application form should contain a clear statement that all information provided by the applicant will be verified and that employment is based on a satisfactory reference check. The application process should include a signed consent from which authorizes obtaining of information from courts ­ both criminal and civil, motor vehicle departments, * former employers, education/licensing credentials, personal and business references, and credit bureaus.**.

The extent of the screening should be based on the scope of the applicant's position and level of responsibility

NIA/NM offers various levels of screening based on company's needs. Costs range from $10.50 to $250.00, depending on scope of searching.

In most instances, results can be made available the same day or within 48 hours

Submitting requests for screening and reporting results are tailored to individual company's needs. In most situations, basic search results may be available on the same day; however, more extensive and/or out-of-state search results may take 48 hours (and longer in some jurisdictions).

* Driver checks are essential when a company car or other operating machinery is to be used by the employee.

** Credit checks are not public information and are subject to Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements.

P.O. Box 27187 · Albuquerque, New Mexico 87125-7187
Phone: 505-243-2222 Fax: 505-332-4905

E-Mail us at:

Pacnia@usa.net