An overwhelming majority of Americans responding to a survey about background checks thinks such checks should be mandatory. But when it comes to getting one done themselves, not nearly so many are in favor.
Those are among the findings of a survey by New York City-based background screening company Sterling Talent Solutions. The company commissioned a poll of more than 1,000 U.S. adults, asking a series of questions related to background checks and workplace safety.
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The company's take on the results was straightforward: "… Americans depend on employers to look into the backgrounds and criminal histories of job candidates. Importantly, contrary to much of what's been reported in the media, only 14 percent of Americans consider background checks to be an invasion of privacy," said Clare Hart, Sterling's CEO. (She didn't say which media reports she was referring to.)
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The numbers don't quite support a full embrace by Americans of background checks, mainly because of the discrepancy between the 95 percent of respondents who said background checks for a job should be mandatory, and the 68 percent who said they would be willing to undergo a background check for a job themselves.
But the results certainly demonstrate a widespread concern about safety on the job, and who should be in charge of that safety (i.e., management). Consider these findings:
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Eighty-one percent believe that feeling safe at all times is their right.
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Safety was among the top five topics survey respondents said should definitely be discussed in the presidential debates this year.
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Seventy-five percent expect to feel safe at their workplace, second only to their doctor's office (83 percent).
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Sixty-five percent believe that background checks provide them with a sense of safety in the workplace.
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Asked to identify which professionals were most important for a background check, respondents chose airline pilot first (66 percent) followed by those who prescribe medication (63 percent), those who represent people in legal matters (56 percent), and those employed to drive or chauffeur others (44 percent).
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
