Volunteer Background Screening – What to do?

There are companies which provide background screening services about those who are hired for volunteer positions. Since these volunteers are often hired for educational or healthcare work, it is surprising to know that there are different point of views. Some says a volunteer should be taken as employee while some have opposite view? Another question is that can a background screening be conducted for a volunteer?

First of all, organizations should make clear about the term ‘Consumer Report’. FCRA defines a Consumer Report as any report prepared by third-party which conducts  credit history, financial standing, reputation, and characteristics.

Following FCRA Rules Are Must

Criminal searches, driving report, reference checks contain information about individual’s character and reputation. A third-party background screening firms are going to provide checks services. In this case both will have to adhere to FCRA regulations. In simple terms, if you are going to use third-party firm to get background check information about a volunteer, then FCRA rules applies to both of you.

Are companies allowed to run background screening service on volunteers? What permissible purpose do they have? The answer is that it is for employment purposes, or at the written consent of the volunteer. Companies which are bluehost hiring background screening services for employment purposes have to follow two-step process. First of all, they should provide a copy of the report to the volunteer and also let them give their input in this regard if they want to.

Best method is to treat volunteers as regular employees under FCRA regulations.

What to do?

• Your company should sign an agreement with the vendor. In the agreement it must be specified  that you will comply with certain laws.
• You must keep the information secure under the stated laws.
• You should ask every volunteer to sign up authorization form. This form will help identify the vendors, summary of their rights under FCRA and how they can exercise these rights.
• You company should keep the signed authorization form for a period of at least two years.
• You company should have a security policy against sensitive data.

What information on volunteer is required?

Tto get specific information about a volunteer, the basic search should include:

• Social Security No (SSN) – to confirm SSN – Check if the volunteer has an alias
• Instant National Criminal / Sex Offender Search
• Country Criminal Searches – Search in the county where the volunteer has resided during the last 7 years.
• If volunteer is going to perform driving duties – a driver history should also be checked.