Trends in Background Checks "Deciding if and when to check a job seeker's criminal history is a complicated ethical issue - and increasingly a legal one." "Employers who use social networking sites when making personnel decisions need to be aware of the legal risks involved." Both statements are from the June 2014 issue of HR Magazine (page 50). What are the trends in background checks and what resources should the HR department consider using in the future? What about doing checks on employees in other countries? Should there be a cross check of credit to avoid negatives due to identity theft of an applicant's credit rating? What does "ban the box" refer to? What tips can you give HR looking to boost the accuracy of background check?