Further Beyond the Basic Background Check: Predicting Future Unethical Behavior. (2nd December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brody, Richard G.; Perri, Frank S.; Van Buren, Harry J.
• Is Part Of: Business and society review. Volume 120:Number 4(2015)
• Page Start: 549
• Page End: 576
• Publication Date: 2015-12-02
• Subjects: Industries -- Social aspects -- United States -- Periodicals; Industries -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; International business enterprises -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Responsabilité sociale; Déontologie; Morale des affaires; Entreprise; Entreprise multinationale; Aspect social; 658.408
• DOI: 10.1111/basr.12074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-3609

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, we analyze the ethical issues of using honesty and integrity tests in employment screening. Our focus will be on the United States context: legal requirements related to applicant privacy differ in other countries, but we posit that our proposed balancing test is broadly applicable. We start by discussing why companies have ethical and legal obligations, based on a stakeholder analysis, to assess the integrity of potential employees. We then move to a consideration of how companies currently use background checks as a pre‐employment screening tool, noting their limitations. We then take up honesty and integrity testing, focusing particularly on the problems of false positives and due process. We offer a balancing test for the use of honesty and integrity testing that takes in three factors: (1) the potential harm posed by a dishonest employee in a particular job, (2) the linkage between the test and the assessment process, and (3) the accuracy and validity of the honesty and integrity test. We conclude with implications for practice and future research.