Employment Background Checks & Drug Testing

Find out what employers can legally learn about you in the hiring process.

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As technology advances, more and more information about us is collected and accessible to anyone who wants to know. Credit reports, rap sheets, medical records -- it's all available to anyone who has the means to find it. But the law places some limits on what kind of information an employer can gather about applicants and employees, and how it can be gathered. The articles in this section explain the rules for background checks, testing, drug tests, and more.

Employment Background Checks & Information Gathering

What can prospective employers find out about you?

Background Checks FAQ
What can a prospective employer find out about you?

Getting Hired With an Arrest or Conviction Record
Learn about legal protections for applicants with criminal records.

State Laws on Use of Arrests and Convictions
Does your state prohibit employers from asking about your criminal record?

Can Potential Employers Check Your Facebook Page?
Learn the rules on social media searching.

Can Prospective Employers Check Your Credit Report?
Although federal law allows employers to check credit, some states don't.

State Laws on Employer Use of Credit Reports
Find out whether your state allows potential employers to check your credit.

Discrimination Against the Unemployed
Federal law doesn't prohibit unemployment discrimination, but a few states do.

Employment Drug Testing

Learn the rules on pre-employment drug tests and screenings.

Drug Tests for Job Applicants: If You're Asked to Take a Drug Test
Learn the legal limits on an employer's right to require a drug test.

State Laws on Drug Testing
Find out your state's rules for testing applicants and employees.

Workplace Testing: What Your Employer May Require
Learn the rules for polygraphs, medical exams, and more.

State Laws on Polygraphs and Lie Detector Tests
Federal law, and the laws of most states, prohibit employers from requiring lie detector tests, except in limited situations.

Questions About Background Checks and Testing

Can a Maryland employer refuse to hire me because of my bad credit?

Can I be denied employment for smoking?

Can a potential employer require me to take a strength test?

Are my Facebook posts dooming my job search?

Can application forms ask about criminal arrests or convictions?

Can I refuse to take a potential employer's drug test?

Can potential employers ask for my Facebook password?