5.8 Final Checks in Selection
Once the interview is completed and testing has taken place, a few final checks, such as background checks, may or may not be performed. Some examples of background checks are Police Information Checks (PICs), previously known as Criminal Record Checks and Credit Checks.
Police Information Checks (PICs)
PICs are checked against the RCMP’s Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) system. They consist of a check of the National Repository of Criminal Records based on a person’s name and date of birth. Name-based checks have an inherent weakness in verifying a person’s identity due to intentionally changing names in an attempt to evade a criminal history record. PICs may be used for employees working in positions of trust. Since criminal background checks can easily breach human rights law and privacy issues, employers should demonstrate that there is a bona fide occupational requirement for conducting one. Employers must receive written consent from their prospective employees before performing any criminal background check.
Did You Know?
Conducting a vulnerable sector check is an offence if the position does not meet the requirements of the Criminal Records Act. The hiring organization must request a vulnerable sector check.
People who volunteer or have jobs where they are in positions of trust or authority over vulnerable persons such as the young, old, or disabled can be asked to obtain a vulnerable sector check. Organizations are responsible for determining their unique requirements for hiring people. Many organizations require people to get PICs or vulnerable sector checks for different reasons, some of which include employment, volunteer work, adoption, immigration or foreign travel, or name change.
Credit Checks
A credit check may be required if the position requires the handling of money, although a written notice must be given to the candidate before the credit check is carried out. In addition, written permission must be provided to the credit agency, and the applicants must receive a copy of the report and a copy of their rights under the Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act (CCRRA). All these types of tests can be used to determine if someone has been honest about their past employment.
Your Perspective: What components are included in the selection process? Which one do you think is the most important?
“19 Testing and Selecting” from Human Resource Management V2 Copyright © 2017 by [Author removed at the request of original publisher] and Ellen Mathein is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.—Modifications: Used paragraph nine, edited.
Police Information Checks included: “Types of criminal background checks” by RCMP, used under the Crown Copyright – NonCommercial Reproduction Licence (Canada). The Government of Canada is not affiliated with nor endorses the reproduction of its official documents here.
