Background Check Company Warns Removing Birth Date from Records Threatens Job Searches

Posted on
by

In Michigan, a set of amendments has been proposed to redact Date of Birth (DOB) information in court records, starting January 1, 2022. The President of CredentialCheck warns this will negatively impact background checks and hiring processes in Michigan.

In Michigan, a set of amendments has been proposed to redact Date of Birth (DOB) information in court records, starting January 1, 2022. The President of CredentialCheck warns this will negatively impact background checks and hiring processes in Michigan.

With thousands of Michiganders looking for work thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, anything that impedes the job search process could have devastating ripple effects across the state. ADM File No. 2020-26 threatens to do just that, according to Nicole S. Kiefer, the President of CredentialCheck, a nationwide background check company based in Michigan.

If ADM File No. 2020-26 is adopted in its current form, Michigan courts will no longer provide dates of birth when releasing records, making background screening next to impossible in the state. Since approximately 94% of employers state-wide utilize background checks as part of their hiring process, such a change could have devastating consequences on hiring in Michigan—especially for applicants with common names.

“Imagine you are hiring for a position and have an ideal candidate, John Smith,” Kiefer says. “All you need is a background check before offering him the job. Once this new rule is in effect, your background screening partner will be unable to provide you with a definitive report since the courts will only be able to provide criminal records for every single John Smith they have on file—determining whether it is the right John Smith without DOB is not just challenging and time-consuming, in many cases it will not be possible.”

Kiefer urges concerned employers and other Michiganders to express their concerns to the Michigan Supreme Court and raise awareness about the potential detriments of ADM File No. 2020-26.

“The State Court Administrative Office must rescind this rule before it goes into effect and not just delay until January 2022,” Kiefer says. “Our jobs, economy, and communities depend on it.”

Call CredentialCheck at (888) 689-2000 to learn more about their solutions for employers big and small. Information about their employee screening services is also available on their website. Their company is based in Troy, MI, and serves organizations across the nation.

Media Contact
Company Name: CredentialCheck
Contact Person: Media Relations
Email: Send Email
Phone: (888) 689-2000
Address:575 E Big Beaver Rd, Ste 300
City: Troy
State: MI
Country: United States
Website: https://credentialcheck.com/