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Background checks for new jobs

  • 04-11-2013 3:41pm
    #1
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,012 ✭✭✭✭


    I'm currently living abroad, sort of hiding away from something stupid I did nearly 14 years ago that got me a criminal record. It was a fairly serious offence and not something a would-be employee would be too chuffed about, despite it being an isolated incident that happened ages ago. While it was never a problem when I lived in Ireland, in that none of the jobs I worked in ever did a background check, I wanted to find out how prevalent this process is now.

    The reason is that I'd like to come home. There is currently no Rehabilitation of Offenders act in Ireland, which means that what I did will never go away, at least until the proposed act is passed (I'm pretty sure my crime would be considered spent under any such legislation) which means I'm nervous about applying for work in Ireland.

    So I'm hoping to find out how many of you had background checks performed when you started your job. I will be applying for fairly senior roles, manager and above because, as mentioned, I have done well in my chosen career despite what happened. I just don't want things to come to a grinding halt if I move home and find I can't get a job because of my past as, although I want to come home, I can continue to stay away if I need to and progress my career in a country where what I did was considered spent some time ago.


Comments

  • #2
    Czarcasm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,076 ✭✭✭✭Czarcasm


    It depends on the employer and the nature of employment OP tbh. I've had to give my consent to all manner of background checks in various employments and voluntary positions. This from the Data Protection Commissioners Office may be of some assistance to you -

    3.1 What type of background checks can I carry out on potential employees?

    The key to compliance with data protection is to inform the potential employee of any potential checks that may be undertaken and seek their specific consent for certain types of checks, e.g. qualification checks, character reference checks.


    Any information that is legitimately in the public domain can generally be accessed within the context of data protection requirements without giving rise to concerns. The person should be provided with any such information, however, in order that they can have an opportunity to provide comments on it.


    An employer is entitled to ask an employee to declare if they have any previous relevant criminal convictions which might impact of the desirability of them performing a particular task. However, an employer should only be concerned about convictions that relate to the particular job on offer. For example, a job involving driving may justify the employer asking about previous driving convictions. This requirement may be updated shortly via a Spent Convictions Bill which was recently introduced by the Government which will allow potential employees (not where they are dealing with children or vulnerable adults or other sensitive positions) in certain situations the option not to provide such information.


    Source: http://www.dataprotection.ie/docs/Data-Protection-in-the-Workplace/1239.htm


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