Have you ever called an employment screening company and asked “how much for a standard background”? I know that you are expecting a 10 word or less answer and I have no idea how to answer that question to the satisfaction of the caller.

It is the question that is the problem. What is the problem with the question? I am glad you asked. That question can only be answered by asking another question. What is that question you ask? My, you are curious today. That question is ….. wait for it ….. “how much do you really want to know”? Within the law of course. That is not the best answer/question. There is a better question, so read on.

“Within the law” is the scariest statment known to HR and employment background agencies. It causes great pause and lowers your life expectancy. So how much do you want to know about your prospective employee. You want to know “just the right amount”! Well, what is that? I guess I should have been a politician. Okay, I’ll get to the point.

Background screenings should be approached from the position from which they are being put. A retail clerk would not have the same check as a truck driver or even an accountant. You may wonder what is the difference between an accountant and a retail clerk. They both work with money and have personal access to company assets. The background that you can perform on the accountant may include more personal detail, leagally, due to the size of salary. All of this is dependant on what you know about your state laws. A good lawyer or resource that watches state and federal laws surrounding employment is paramount in the employment business and that is everyone who employs people in the united states. I can’t speak for china, but I think a pulse is the only thing required for employment and that might even be a stretch (jusy kidding).

The long and the short of it is that you should have some information about the positions you are hiring for and what state they are working within prior to asking the standard cost of a background. You should also know more about your screening company and what are their resources. They should be a member of NAPBS. Not because NAPBS membership is important but because its resources to screening companies is invaluable. Your screening company may know its home state laws but needs help for national accounts where employees are being employed in other states.

To sum it up, lets do this together. We do not want a background to be a mystery cost nor what we do to be a mystery either. We cannot answer the standard background question to your satisfaction. If a backgorund search agency does not ask for what type of position and what state will they be working, hang up and call another agency.

Well, 2009 is over! I could not be happier. How about you? Let me know if you feel the same. I still feel uncertain about the economic, political, and social termoil that 2009 whipped up for us all.

The economy shows signs of life but there are still housing and employment issues looming and who can trust the numbers being put out. I guess we’ll all hold our breath until second quarter.

Politically, I could not be more disenchanted with the whole thing. It seems the game in Washington, DC to make us feel like they are solving problems while finding ways to make us pay more money into a system that seems to be fighting against us while lining their own pockets and this goes for all of them on the hill (republican, independant, democrat, and whoever). I would love to see a complete change this year when we vote in November.

Socially, what a mess. Pretty soon we’ll flinch when someone says Hi to a man named Jack. A lovely quote from a felon comes to mind “can’t we all just get along”. I guess I do not understand how blowing yourself and innocent people up will accomplish anything but pain and anguish. It is ultimately the most selfish thing anyone could do, but I guess they don’t care they are no longer here to hear the crying or see the seas of tears. I know my maker values all life and ours is not up to us to decide when it is over. In fact, that decision is supposed to make things worse for you.

So, with all this good news, what am I going to do about it this year. Economically, I am going to get out of credit card debt. I did the calulation, I should have retired already but the interest payments have kept me employed – bummer. Politically, I am actually going to study the people I vote for office. More work, but I can’t complain if I don’t walk the walk. Socially, I will love my family (they rock), friends (they rock too), and most importantly myself (I will be a rock) more. I will make more friends (where will I find the time or them?). I will volunteer. I have not formally done this and I look forward to it. I can no longer afford to sit back. I am beening called, as we all are, to step into the light, give honest humble thanks, pray, and have them answered. Welcome 2010, this year is going to be challenging and promises to stretch us all. Good luck and blessings to everyone.