quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
I'm in the finance industry. Every six months for me. Credit checks happen at the same time.

When I was it was just at hiring/licensing. Sent in finger prints and did background check once as far as I know. It's a NASD regulation I think? Maybe my company also did (bi)annual ones and I never was told?

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
I don't recall hearing about annual checks but that does not surprise me.

.Gov has been so inundated with clearance screenings that nearly everyone is on a continual notification watch in between periodic investigations. So any number of things can cause a spot check - in my recent case it was several out of state medical bills that went severely past due and popped on the credit score - my son broke his leg on vacation, the wife took him to a hospital and over the next couple of months we got the waterfall of billing from every person who heard his name - some obviously fell through the cracks with insurance, etc. That eventually mades its way into the system, requiring an explanation, etc.

A severe civil / criminal charge would likely trigger the same thing (in addition should have been reported voluntarily per security requirements).

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:
I held a Top Secret CNWDI (critical nuclear weapons design info) in the Air Force. I was surprised that they actually contacted people I grew up with. Now I’m a Texas LTC carrier so I’m checked there and I’m sure that being an FFL gets a little scrutiny. I went through the TSA Pre check junk so that also had some background checks. This year my employer is requiring TWIC cards so I’ll have that. I’m not sure what else they could check on me.

Back in the 1960s, in USAF both my SECRET and TOP SECRET clearances had FBI background checks that interviewed neighbors and acquaintances. For the TS one they went back all the way to my birth for neighbors!

Can a business just decide to have background checks done on its employees because it wants it? I would think BG resources would be limited and that there would have to be good reasons to perform them.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
Can a business just decide to have background checks done on its employees because it wants it? I would think BG resources would be limited and that there would have to be good reasons to perform them.

There are plenty of entities that a company can pay to do them, either as part of hiring or periodic checks. Obviously the more in depth checks, the more $$$ it costs. We do them for potential new hires in addition to what security clearance stuff is being done. We can screen for drugs at any time as well and the employees agree to it as part of being employed. Refused and enjoy the unemployment line.

It really depends on the company and the work being done. Would I care if the guy changing the oil at Jiffy Lube has a DUI, is late on child support, and smokes a little reefer in his spare time? Likely not if he shows up on time and does his work.

How about a pilot / aircrew / intelligence specialist who has access to sensitive materials and operates equipment work millions of dollars? Or someone in a finance position with access to money? Or a person with special trust and confidence, like local, state, and federal LEOs...? Oh hell yes, I and likely the government would really care what they have done.

A background check is no substitute for a thorough and comprehensive interview. There are quite a number of people that have a squeaky clean background but are trouble in the workplace. Corporations and government contractors often rely too heavily on these metrics.

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:
I held a Top Secret CNWDI (critical nuclear

I’m not sure what else they could check on me.

While you would not think of it as part of a CBGC, your social media foot print is something that is looked at I am pretty sure these days as part of that process.

As jljones indicated in the Ramius thread. All the agencies would go there to help identify who you are. Or who they want to make you out to be or at least give it some consideration depending on their motivations.

What's a TWIC?

Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Issued by the TSA as an ID for workers requiring unescorted access of port facilities and vessels regulated under the MTSA.

Thank you, Michael.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Issued by the TSA as an ID for workers requiring unescorted access of port facilities and vessels regulated under the MTSA.

I have had two different individuals denied firearms purchases with TWIC cards . Both filed challenge forms with the Pennsylvania State Police and both were denied. One did lose his job later but I don’t think it had anything to do with his denial and the other is still working two years later.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I was hired as a contract software guy at a major telephone central office manufacturer. A year or so after I started there, they announced that there would be mandatory drug screening.

I did not consent, I did not participate. I had nothing to hide, but I took the position that this should have been a pre-hire screening. I stated that if they could show any indication that I was a drug user, I would take the screening, but absent any probable cause they could pound sand.

Nothing further came of it, none of us (I was not the only one) who refused, were "punished" in any way.

I did 30 years with Bell Atlantic/Verizon and it was a automatic firing to refuse a drug test. They could and did do it anytime they wanted.

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:
I held a Top Secret CNWDI (critical nuclear weapons design info)

Same here. I never thought it was a big deal back then, but I was surprised when I got some phone calls from a few friends who said they were questioned.

The TWIC has got to be the biggest useless joke and waste of resources the government has implemented in the last decade. Seriously. The crap they make you go through to get it and the cost, and most (99%) of the facilities I've used it to get into simply look at it and copy down with pen and paper the info. It is a CAC card by the way, but hardly any facility actually has readers for it. Only in the last year have I've seen a few actually using readers. Government boondoggle at its finest.

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
Retired now , but when I was working for the power company I had a TWIC card and an unescorted access card to the nuke plant in our area . I got investigated every which way . You get used to it .

Like selogic, working in the Turkey Point Nuclear plant, in order to have access, we all had to get constant Federal background checks in addition to the regular drug screening checks. You get used to it in order to keep your job. I never had a problem with it as a condition of employment. The only inconvenience was that anytime your number came up no matter where in the field outside we were, we'd have to drop what your doing and head to the plant for a screen. Sometimes we might have been in the field outside the plant in other substations and would travel a good hour to get tested at the plant.

I've been subjected to random drug testing every year of my life since 1998.

I’ve only had one drug screen my entire life and that was in the military.

Kind of a “pop quiz” A Spec 4 walks in, walks up to me and says, “be at blding such and so at 1100 hours. Failure to show up is automatic Article 15.”

Back then, the test was OBA (Opiates, barbiturates and amphetamines).

I only had a Secret security clearance. Not sure if that had anything to do with the drug screen or not.

Everyone is going nuts with drug tests and background checks. Companies like Amazon require contractors to have a clean criminal background and to pass a drug test. The background checks resemble the paperwork for a military Top Secret security clearance.

Many Americans fail these tests, which is why there are so many immigrants in certain jobs - they come from the third world so there is little info on their background to deny a clearance.

V.

Most positions require pre employment alcohol and drug screens. Truckers have random testing for alcohol and drugs on a pretty consistent basis. If you are injured at work, you are generally drug tested. Some companies have random drug testing instead of layoffs.

I am in favor of alcohol and drug testing. I have worked in the past with people under the influence in safety sensitive positions. It is pretty scary. Many of the companies will pay for whatever treatment the psychologist suggests. {These days alcohol and drug treatment is usually a covered benefit.}

quote:

Originally posted by White Phosphorus:
Companies like Amazon require contractors to have a clean criminal background and to pass a drug test.

That doesn't seem unusual to me, far from it. When you say "a clean criminal background" does this mean any arrests at all, or only felonies? You're not saying Amazon won't hire someone who has been arrested for, say, DUI?

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by White Phosphorus:
Companies like Amazon require contractors to have a clean criminal background and to pass a drug test.

That doesn't seem unusual to me, far from it. When you say "a clean criminal background" does this mean any arrests at all, or only felonies? You're not saying Amazon won't hire someone who has been arrested for, say, DUI?

Amazon in quite mysterious and closed mouthed about case by case approvals or denials for contractors. The paperwork gives them wide leeway and much of it is at their discretion.

I don't think they'll be able to be as strict as they want to be. We're talking about furniture contractors, security guards, janitors, etc. Most of these people are immigrants so there is no background records for them to check.

Amazon is actually quite liberal in these matters. A lot of places insist on clean backgrounds and drug free tests for anyone working there no matter how lowly the job may be.

I find the whole thing exasperating myself. Requiring a janitor to have the equivalent of a Top Secret security clearance??????

Brave new world.

V.