Amazon is one of the world’s largest and most influential companies. It is also one of the world’s largest employers. It employs tens of thousands of people in all parts of the country doing a range of activities, from loading trucks to driving trucks to programming computers.
To be a place where people will want to work, Amazon must make efforts to ensure that its workplaces are safe and secure. To do this, they run background checks on employee candidates before hiring them and run periodic background checks on existing employees.
The scope, depth, and type of Amazon’s background checks depend on the type of job for which the employee candidate is being considered and the jurisdiction in which the employee candidate lives. But generally, Amazon performs background checks to identify anything that would suggest the employee candidate is not suitable for work at Amazon. Understanding what Amazon looks for is essential for potential employees. Additionally, if an Amazon background check denied you employment with Amazon, an understanding of the process of how and why Amazon gets its results will help you determine if legal action is necessary.
Why Does Amazon Do Background Checks?
Background checks have become standard in many companies’ hiring processes, including Amazon. Amazon does background checks to ensure the safety and integrity of its operations and its workforce. Amazon provides a wide range of services for millions and millions of consumers, so Amazon must screen employees thoroughly. By performing background checks, Amazon aims to:
- Ensure workplace safety. By verifying a job candidate’s history, Amazon seeks to create a safe and secure working environment for all its employees.
- Maintain its reputation. Amazon’s reputation as a reliable provider of goods and services depends on the trustworthiness and professionalism of its workforce.
- Comply with rules and regulations. Certain positions and certain jurisdictions require background checks. This is especially true of jobs involving handling sensitive information or working with vulnerable groups.
What Amazon Looks For
Again, the scope of Amazon’s background checks depends on the location and the job of the applicant. But generally speaking, Amazon’s background checks are comprehensive and focus on several key aspects of a person’s background:
- Criminal history. Amazon reviews an applicant's criminal record to determine if they are suitable for the role. Generally, Amazon will look back seven years. While a criminal record does not automatically disqualify a candidate, some crimes in a criminal record likely will.
- Employment history verification: Amazon examines and confirms a candidate’s employment records to make sure the candidate has the work experience they say they do and can conduct themselves professionally.
- Education verification. Similarly, Amazon will check academic credentials to ensure they align with what the applicant presented on their resume.
- Credit history. For jobs that involve finances and financial responsibilities, Amazon will likely review an applicant's credit history and assess their ability to handle money responsibly.
- Identity and address verification. Amazon wants to ensure the applicant is who they say they are.
- Driving record. For jobs requiring driving, Amazon will likely check an applicant’s driving history. While the existence of some minor traffic violations will not disqualify a candidate, the presence of some driving incidents likely could.
If you have any questions about a forthcoming Amazon background check, are waiting for the results of a background check, or have been denied employment with Amazon due to a background check, contact an attorney. Background checks need to be fair and adhere to the laws so consumer rights attorneys are ready to make sure they are.
How Does Amazon Do Background Checks
Amazon uses third parties to conduct its background checks. To do this, they need the applicant’s permission and some of their basic personal information. The upside to using third parties is that it allows Amazon to complete the background checks in a few days to a week, depending on the type of search. The downside is that third parties can make mistakes.
The primary agencies Amazon uses are Sterling Infosystems, Accurate Background, and First Advantage. These companies collect a candidate’s information from all the relevant sources, compile it into a report, and send it to Amazon. Depending on the job and the job candidate, the company may need to gather data from the criminal records databases of many states, collect employment data from many employers, collect credit history from many financial institutions, and collect driving records from many different motor vehicle departments.
Because so many parties are transmitting so much data, mistakes can and often do happen.
How to Dispute an Amazon Background Check
Mistakes can happen for many reasons. A spelling error, a mistyped social security number, a former employer that neglects to return the call, or a mortgage company that neglects to update their data can all lead to a flawed background report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act ( “FCRA”) is a federal law that provides guidelines for how companies must handle your background information. The FCRA also offers people the right to dispute inaccuracies in background reports. Here are the steps to follow:
- Request the report. The FCRA requires Amazon to tell you if they take any adverse action because of your background check report. They must also tell you the company that performed the background check and provide you with a copy of the report. Your dispute will almost certainly be with the background check company, not Amazon. An experienced consumer attorney will be able to talk you through this. Every case is different, and people in this position often require the experience and personal attention of a consumer lawyer.
- Identify and prove the inaccuracies. Read and review the background check report thoroughly. Identify any errors or inaccuracies, keeping in mind that even the smallest inaccuracy can result in false information being relayed, which can have devastating consequences. Once you know the inaccuracies, gather documents that prove the information is inaccurate. This might require letters from former employers, bank statements, certified driving records, or updated criminal records.
- File a dispute with the third-party agency that conducted your background check. Write a brief letter to the relevant background check agency (e.g., Sterling Infosystems, Accurate Background, or First Advantage) explaining the reason for the dispute. You can find the address on each company’s website or contact Consumer Attorneys. We will also tell you to send the letter via certified mail, as filing a dispute online or over the phone can cause you to relinquish some of your rights to sue these companies later. Include the supporting documents with your letter.
- Wait thirty days. The FCRA requires the background company to investigate your dispute and reply to you within thirty days. If it does not, the company violates the law. If it does send you a reply, make sure it is investigated thoroughly and you have received an adequate response to your dispute. After the investigation, the company will either update the report if they find the dispute valid or maintain their findings. They must provide you with the investigation results and an updated copy of your report. If the background check company fails to correct the false information, contact an attorney to assist you. Just because the background check company says they investigated does not mean the dispute is over.
If you have any questions about this or about Amazon’s responsibility to hire you when should the background check company correct the mistake it made, contact Consumer Attorneys. Regardless of Amazon’s actions, the background check company must correct its mistake.
While Amazon’s background checks are necessary, the companies that do them for Amazon must do them with a level of care and accuracy that the law demands. When they do not, you have legal rights and might be entitled to compensation. While Amazon conducts background checks to protect itself, the law and Consumer Attorneys are here to protect you.
