Group One background checks

This wouldn't be slanderous, since slander refers to the spoken word.

However, this could be potentially libelous, since libel refers to the written word. Hiring managers are reading background checks from GroupOne Services with subjective information, and deciding not to hire the applicant based on the written word.

Unfortunately Texas is not a worker-friendly state. The laws in TX were changed 10+ years ago which made it very difficult if not impossible to hold an employer liable for anything that is said. Although there are still employers who have not wished to test this law to the fullest and continue to only give the routine info of name, date of hire/termination, eligible for rehire, etc. more and more employers have decided to use this law to their perceived benefit. Thus, Group 1 does nothing illegal. The "good ole boys" still rule high and mighty in TX and they make sure that they pass laws to prevent the rest of us from getting a fair shake.

Hey I'm not from Texas, so could you explain what Group 1 is and what it does.

Okay, I'll tell you exactly what GroupOne is. It is a consumer reporting agency. That is all. They are not part of the mafia, they are not Big Brother, they are not communist nazis. GroupOne is a pre-employment screening company formed by the Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council to specifically seek to improve patient safety and quality of health care. If that means keeping child molesters, drug addicts, and law breakers out of the business, so be it.

Two of my daughters and myself have all had GP1 background checks and they have turned out Okay because none of us have broken any laws or violated company policies.

You only hear about the ones that turn out bad. 90 percent of the checks turn out Ok and most people don't even know they have a GroupOne although you actually signed a paper giving the company permission to do a background check.

There are many other companies that do the same thing, but GP1 is specifically geared to the medical community.

GP1 does not go out and dig up dirt on people. Employers ask them to verify certain information such as education, current and previous employment and criminal activity in their past and present locations.

If the employer gives the wrong ssn or date of birth or wrong spelling of a name, they will probably end up getting incorrect results. The only information GP1 reports is documented information. You can find most of it on-line if you know the right places to look.

Researchers are only allowed to contact HR and get information that is documented. They do not contact your supervisor (unless that is the number you gave on you application). If you give false or illegible information on your application you may be digging your own grave.

Hospital HRs are notorious for hiring entry level office personell. These people take the information from your application and enter it into the applicant system. Sometimes you enter your own information at a computer station or on-line. Watch out for typo's. One number off on you ssn could cause you to pull up with a record. Any company doing background checks must have 3 matches to report something on you. This could be any combination of First name, last name, date of birth and ssn.

As a "control" measure, supervisors often say "I'm going to groupone you", or I will report you to GP1. That is just silly. If you actually did violate company policy, they have a right to document it in your file. If they are just documenting something out of spite, you have the right to challenge it.

Just as with any consumer report, you have a right to see what is in your file. I think the charge is something like 12 - 13 dollars. If you have been denied employment because of what is in your GP1, you have a right to a free copy, just like you have a right to your credit report if you are denied credit.

GroupOne will initiate a dispute for you if you let them know what information is incorrect on your report. The company that reported the information has 30 days to respond. Unless they feel very strongly about what they reported against you, and it is completely documented, they will usually remove it.

Before YOU go around commiting slander and libel, learn the facts.

I am in full agreement with keeping violent criminals out of healthcare.

I, however, disagree with the fact that purely subjective information can be reported to GroupOne. Perfectly good nurses have been effectively barred from hospital employment in the DFW area, even though they have never broken a company policy or procedure. All it takes is one vengeful supervisor or nurse manager to do the damage.

In addition, why should nurses have to spend the time, money, energy, and effort to challenge allegations that are often wrongful and damaging to their careers?

I'd agree with the tactics of GroupOne, but ONLY if they'd report OBJECTIVE data about peoples' work histories. Subjective crap does not belong on any type of consumer report.

For a forgien trained nurse coming into the Texas Nurse workforce, I would assume they would be mute point.

Thanks for the info ladies. I'm from Michigan and hopefully they have something similar to this.

Even if you received your "nurse training" in a foreign country, you could still be reported to GroupOne by a nurse manager or supervisor who dislikes you at the hospital that employs you.