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Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>Our board of trustees is contemplating kicking up several notches our
>procedures for doing background checks on new staff and volunteers. How
>extensively do other science centers check backgrounds of employees? Which
>procedures are most effective? How do you handle declining to employ
>someone because of information that turns up in the background check?
We go through a particular company that does background checks. When people apply for a job here, they fill out a form to give us permission to do a background check. The form asks for their
current name, address, previous names, up to 4 previous addresses, and their signature. We fax in the form, and $50 later, we get the background check results returned to us, usually within a couple
of days. We will decline employment for people who have felonies within the past 7 years on their record, plus we will decline employment to people who have misdemeanors in areas such as theft,
drugs, or anything related to children - any misdemeanor that wouldn't be appropriate for an employee of a public institution that has a significant visitorship composed of kids. Usually, if someone
goes through the interview process and is offered a position, it is always contingent on the background check results, meaning the background check results have to be in to us and reviewed before
someone can actually start the position.
These policies are in place for all staff (full- and part-time) and volunteers.
Michelle
Michelle Nichols, Master Educator for Informal Programs
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60605
312-322-0520
312-322-9181 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org
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