The document discusses the results of a survey of HR professionals regarding post-hire background checks of employees. It finds that 43% of organizations conduct post-hire background checks, most commonly when prompted by a reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing or legal requirement. Over half of organizations started conducting these checks in the past 5 years, with the majority in the private sector and representing a variety of industries and organization sizes across different regions.

1. January 22, 2010 Background Checking: Post-hire Background Checks

2. Post-hire Background Checks 2

3. Does your organization conduct post-hire credit and/or criminal background checks of employees who are currently working at your organization? 3 Note: n = 296. Not sure” responses were excluded from this analysis.

4. Under what circumstances does your organization conduct post-hire credit and/or criminal background checks on employees? 4 Note: n = 72. Percentages do not total to 100% as respondents were allowed multiple choices. Only respondents whose organization perform post-hire background check were included in the analysis.

5. When did your organization start conducting post-hire credit and/or criminal background checks of employees? 5 Note: n = 55. ”Don’t know” responses were excluded from this analysis.

6. Demographics: Organization Industry 6 Note: n=312. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

7. Demographics: Organization Industry (continued) 7 Note: n=312. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

8. Demographics: Organization Sector 8 Note: n = 319. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding

9. Demographics: Organization Staff Size 9 Note: n = 312. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding

10. Demographics: Organization Region 10 Note: n = 312. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding

11. Demographics: Organization Operations Location 11 Note: n = 315. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding

12. Background Checking Methodology Response rate = 19% Sample comprised of 433 randomly selected HR professionals from SHRM’s membership Margin of error is +/- 5 Survey fielded November 18 – December 4, 2009 12