There are many advantages and even a few disadvantages to background checks for both employees and employers. One of the advantages for employers is that from the very beginning of the hiring process it can help eliminate prospective employees who may have lied in their resumes to get the job in the first place. Lying in resumes in a tough job market is not uncommon. Changing job titles or education is commonplace when the economy is making finding a job nearly impossible.

When the competition heats up a person will do whatever it takes to win. Another advantage is that it can protest an employer from dishonest people who may try to embezzle funds or steal products or maybe even hurt other employees. This can cause major legal issues for the employer which is an expensive lesson. The prime disadvantage to employers is that background checks can be costly and the more thorough the check the more expensive it becomes.

One of the advantages for employees lies in the fact that when an employer does a thorough background check on everyone employed there, there is a sense of guaranteed safety. You can rest assured that your fellow employees are not dangerous criminals that should not be trusted. It makes for a calmer, less stress environment. A con for some employees is that one mistake you made in your youth, no matter how hard you may have worked or how much integrity you have gained since, can cost you a job or a promotion.

This is not always fair, but companies have to be consistent in their policies and treat everyone the same in that regard. Also, sometimes information received can be incorrect. For instance, you may be John Smith Jr., never having done anything wrong in your life, but if your father John Smith Sr. has a history of violence and an information bureau has it listed under your name, this can cause issues and job positions. This kind of situation is also very difficult to remedy and takes time and money. For the most part, background checks are reliable sources of information and a good way to gauge potential employees for hire.