When employers implement an employment screening program for new hires, a major question is often “What should I look for in a potential employee?” Most agree that a criminal record check is certainly required, but what other services are offered that could be of value to the employer.
One such search that is sometimes overlooked is the MVR (Motor Vehicle Record) or state driving record search. The MVR will reveal several pieces of relevant information to the employer:
§ Is the license valid?
§ Are there excessive traffic violations?
§ Have there been any suspensions or revocations?
§ Are the identity and date of birth correct?
Remember that the person may have a revoked or suspended license and still have it in his possession, and that drivers’ licenses can be forged, counterfeit, or altered. The only way to be sure that the license is legitimate is to verify it with the DMV.
If your employee is going to be driving as a part of the job, of course the employer has an interest in the driver’s status, because the record can have an effect on the insurance premiums paid by the employer. Bad drivers equal high rates.
But what if an employee who doesn’t normally drive as part of his duties is running an errand to the office supply store for your business in his own vehicle, and has an accident in which someone is injured. The liability is likely to fall back on the employer. If the driver was unlicensed or had a bad driving record, the chances of being found negligent potentially rise.
So weigh the potential risk of unknowingly employing an unsafe driver against the satisfaction of knowing that you have a safe and responsible employee on the road. An MVR check as part of your overall employment screening process is a relatively inexpensive way to have one less thing to worry about.
To learn more about employment screening call 1-770-426-0547 or click here.
