Does Walmart Do Background Checks?

Walmart is an American multinational retail corporation unlike any other. It frequently seeks associates at stores around the world. To land an associate role or any other Walmart job, an individual should expect to undergo a background check. 

There are more than 2.3 million Walmart associates globally, all of whom likely underwent a background check before they were hired. A job candidate must consent to a background screening as part of the hiring process. Upon completion, the candidate can move forward with a role at Walmart. However, if an error is discovered during the background check, it may hamper a candidate’s ability to join the Walmart team. 

What Happens If Errors Are Found During a Walmart Background Check?

A Walmart background screening error can cause a job candidate to miss out on an opportunity to further their career. In this instance, Walmart will notify the candidate if he or she is not going to be hired due to information found during their check. At this point, it is paramount for the candidate to review their check. This enables a candidate to find out if any background check errors were present.  

Walmart is required to provide a candidate with the contact information for the company that performed their background screening. It must also notify this individual that he or she has the right to dispute background check errors. 

What Information Is Walmart Looking for in a Background Check?

When Walmart conducts a background check, they are legally obligated to obtain your specific consent. They may ask you, during the hiring process, to sign a Fair Credit Reporting Act Authorization and Disclosure Form. This form allows the company to then gather information about you that they could use for verifying your information. Typically, they do this to gather information on:

• Criminal background
• Employment background
• Educational history
• Information about your character
• Your credit standing
• Mode of living (do you live in a home or rent?)
• Other information

Most often, Walmart uses a third-party company to conduct these reports. As a result, they have access to any information that the organization shares and gathers about you. 

Why Does Walmart Conduct Background Checks?

It can seem unfair and even unnerving for Walmart to pursue information like this about you. How would your place of living or personal information relate to your ability to get a job and do that job? 

The company offers several reasons why they gather this information. They are likely to use this information:

• To create your personnel file and maintain it
• To recruit and employ you (by verifying your identity and the accuracy of your application information)
• To audit and monitor
• To identify areas for potential operational improvement
• To protect their own security and systems from high risks of fraud

The company is within the law to gather information like this if they ask for your permission first.

Your background check may include very personal details about you. A criminal background check will typically include all information about arrests, outstanding warrants, any dates of jail time and the reason for it, and probation and parole data. Typically, the company looks back 7 years to gather information about its applicants.

Keep in mind that Walmart can only require a background check if they have made a conditional job offer to you and requested to do so. If they have not, they may be in violation of employment laws.

How Can You Dispute Walmart Background Check Errors?

To dispute Walmart background screening errors, contact the company that performed the assessment. Walmart can provide the contact information for the company. 

An individual can submit a dispute letter to a Walmart background check provider. The letter should include information about the errors found in the check. It should also explain why these mistakes need to be fixed. 

After a background check company receives a dispute letter, it has 30 days to investigate. Once the company’s investigation is finished, it has five business days to inform an individual about the results. 

Can I File a Lawsuit If Walmart Background Check Errors Are Not Corrected?

Information must be removed from a Walmart background check if it cannot be verified. In this scenario, the background screening company must fix the mistake. The company must then provide the individual and Walmart with the revised report. 

In the event that a Walmart background screening error goes unaddressed, help is available. At this point, an individual may be able to file a lawsuit against the background screening company.  

Before pursuing a legal claim against a Walmart background screening company, consult with a Fair Credit Reporting Act attorney. Next, the lawyer can review the information surrounding the individual’s claim. He or she can then determine if now is the right time to move forward with a lawsuit.

How Long Does Walmart Keep Your Personal Information? 

When requesting information from you for a background check, the company may provide you with insight into the reasons they gather this information, how they use it, if they share it, and how long they keep it. You can see some of that information on the Walmart Privacy Policy they provide for applicants to read.

Typically, the company says it will keep the information it obtains for as long as it deems necessary to make decisions about your employment. The company shares that it disposes of private information according to the company’s policy. 

While gathering your personal information, the company must ensure it is kept safe. That includes creating a way to keep information safe such as on a physical application as well as in a database online. If you feel that your information was exposed and that led to a privacy infringement, you may need to reach out to an attorney for guidance.

Partner with a Top-Notch Florida Employment Background Report Error Attorney

Sharmin & Sharmin P.A. can help an individual pursue a legal claim against a Walmart background screening company. We have experienced Florida employment background report error attorneys who are committed to their craft. Our attorneys will do everything possible to help individuals win their Fair Credit Reporting Act cases. To request a free consultation, contact us online or call us at 1-844-Sharmin.