can employers find out where you've worked in the past through background checks?

Nurses General Nursing

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can hospitals or other employers find out where you have worked in the past through background checks?

Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.
can hospitals or other employers find out where you have worked in the past through background checks?

Employers don't even have to go through the background/credit check process.

Any employer that paid Social Security (FICA) and/or Federal Income Tax on your behalf (W2 or 1099) is public record, and can be obtained via a number of different methods. There are several companies that provide previous employment information, (dates employed & salary), via looking up your Social Security records.

With respect to positive or negative performance reviews ... that's another issue. Most companies today only give out dates of employment and that's it, due to defamation of character lawsuit issues.

Hope this helps.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

the check we do has to do with criminal activity, whether or not you are delinquent in school loans and have you committed fraud to the govt. Other than that, probably no.

Specializes in ER, ICU.

They use your resume for that. Be prepared to explain a gap in employment where your "phantom" bad experience would be. I even put a gap in employment when I stayed home to care for my kids for sixth months right in my resume.

Employers are listed on credit reports.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
Employers are listed on credit reports.

And this is the primary reason employers check credit reports -- it is a cheap, efficient way to verify employment and addresses.

My credit reports have never listed more than the current employer. One of the agencies lists my employer from several years ago. Credit reports normally are used to verify addresses.

Employers don't even have to go through the background/credit check process.

Any employer that paid Social Security (FICA) and/or Federal Income Tax on your behalf (W2 or 1099) is public record, and can be obtained via a number of different methods. There are several companies that provide previous employment information, (dates employed & salary), via looking up your Social Security records.

With respect to positive or negative performance reviews ... that's another issue. Most companies today only give out dates of employment and that's it, due to defamation of character lawsuit issues.

Hope this helps.

If the company that's hiring you asks you to sign a waiver, and if you don't mind signing the waiver, your previous employer may or may not cooperate. Mine didn't, per their policy, and I don't blame them. My former peers didn't mine helping me, though I really don't like them to be put on the spot. Maybe somebody else has a better way to comment on the situation.

Specializes in FNP.

Yes, they can.

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