When I first started running my own business, I assumed that all background checks were the same. Each of the background check companies seemed to offer the same thing. They would do a comprehensive criminal background check, finding any and all past involvement in illegal activities. Almost every background check company also offered to check out the credit of any potential employees. Although some people think that this is none of my business as a business owner, I beg to differ.

How can I know that someone will come to work on time if they will not pay their loans on time? How can I know that someone will be able to flip burgers if they cannot balance their checkbook? Needless to say, I was pretty happy that the background check companies all offered such a thorough service. I did not realize that much of what they promised was a lie.

Each background check company pays several other companies when they do searches. Background check companies, you see, do not work alone. They need access to national credit reporting agencies, criminal databases - you name it. There are all kinds of things going on behind the scenes, and I suspect that they are much more complicated than you can imagine. Background check firms, then, have a conflict of interest going on. The more different sources that background check companies have access to, the more that they have to pay. If a background check company can eliminate some of the sources that it accesses, it can have a higher profit margin.

Unfortunately, the background check companies that do this do not provide as thorough of a service. They can get some of the background check criminal records, but not others. They will miss out on certain details of financial transactions. It is a little known fact, but many of the background check companies have no access at all to foreign criminal records. This means that, if one of your employees was involved in a crime overseas, he is probably safe from background checks!

These background check companies will not be able to safeguard you against international criminals. You could have a terrorist working for you and not even know it! In the minds of the heads of the background check companies, this is just about doing business. To me, however, it is more. We serve families in my restaurant, you see. There are little children who eat there. We would not want to put any of them in danger with an international criminal working behind the counter.