Considerations When Hiring in Washington State
Washington state employers know that smart hiring starts with smarter background screening. That’s why Washington employers rely on background checks designed to provide a reliable well-rounded view of a candidate’s history, from criminal background checks to professional license verifications.
Accurate’s employment screening services assist Washington state businesses streamline hiring and minimize potential risk.
When Should Employers Run Background Checks?
Although background checks are most often used during the pre-employment stage, business owners and employers can conduct them at various points in the employment lifecycle, including promotions or reassignments, or when required by industry rules and regulations.
For many industries, background screening is essential to verify that a candidate meets the requirements of the position and the industry. Fields such as healthcare, education, finance, and transportation often require additional checks — like professional license verifications or sanctions checks — due to the sensitive nature of the work or specific licensing obligations.
What Can Employers Request on a Washington Background Check?
The contents of a background check will depend on the requirements of your organization, the role and industry regulations. A screening package may include some or all of the following:
- AccurateReach, a tips and leads search that includes a nationwide database search to help uncover criminal records beyond those found through a candidate’s address history
- Criminal Background Check Services, including county, state, and federal criminal searches
- Employment history
- Education and credential verifications
- Professional license verification
- Motor vehicle driving history
- Sex offender registry search
- Government and healthcare sanctions
Accurate allows you to tailor your background checks so you can make an informed hiring decision. From a criminal record search to the assessment of a candidate’s employment, Accurate can create the background check package for your needs.
Key Considerations for Background Checks in Washington
It is important for employers to understand legislation concerning background checks in Washington. Some of the relevant regulations include, but are not limited to:
- Ban the Box: Washington’s state law limits when employers can inquire about an applicant’s criminal history. Employers may not ask about criminal records in job advertisements, on the application, or during the interview process. Employers may only inquire about criminal records after extending a conditional job offer.
- Use of criminal records: Adverse employment decisions (such as rescinding an offer, terminating employment, etc.) should only occur when there is a legitimate business reason by considering how the conviction directly affects the candidate’s ability to perform the job. Employers should conduct individualized assessments and provide candidates an opportunity to respond before taking adverse action.
- Use of marijuana tests in hiring decisions: Recreational marijuana is legal in Washington, so employers should also review state marijuana laws and other relevant regulations to ensure compliance.
- Federal regulations: Employers need to stay current with federal regulations such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that govern background checks as well as EEOC Guidance on utilizing criminal history in employment decisions. The EEOC Guidance provides employers what to consider when reviewing criminal recording, including but not limited to, avoiding blanket policies that automatically disqualify applicants based on criminal records and instead, evaluate whether criminal history is directly related to the job and if it would affect the applicant’s ability to perform the duties of the role.
Why Choose Accurate Background Checks?
Whether you’re hiring for a small business in Spokane or a corporate office in Seattle, we can assist you screen your employees efficiently and responsibly without compromising quality or accuracy. We access a wide range of reliable sources and present information in a user-friendly format that makes it easy to take the next steps in your hiring process.
Contact Accurate today to start building the best background screening program for your business.