Employee Authorization to Run Background Check

Running a background check has become more common, with employers checking the history of potential employees. The type of background check can be run, depending on what information you require. In all events, you will need to get permission from the person you are running a background check on to do this.

It is specifically performed on a finalist selected for a position before a hiring decision.

It is necessary to obtain written authorization from the candidate prior to conducting reference checks.

As a general rule, information obtained and requested through the pre-employment process should be limited to that which is essential for determining if a person is qualified for the job.

Most laws prohibit discrimination based upon race, sex, religion, colour, national origin, age, disability and other factors. Be sure to treat candidates equally and avoid any questions which may be construed as discriminatory.

In light of potential liability issues, it is common for a former employer to provide a neutral reference in which the employer merely affirms that the employee worked for the employer during certain dates and held a specific position.  

Jurisdiction

This letter is intended for use in the GCC region and the laws in the GCC may differ from one country to the other, you may need to have this document reviewed by a competent local legal practitioner.

Before Execution

- The information on this front page or contained in the headers and footers of this instrument are for guidance purposes only.

- Please delete this front page together with the information contained in the headers, footers and the endnotes prior to circulating this letter. Where square brackets […] and highlights are used in the document, it indicates that there is missing or incomplete information which will need to be incorporated prior to signature.

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