As anyone who runs a business or manages a department knows, recruiting and selecting a workforce that is capable of achieving the organization’s goals is a challenging process. To make the best hiring decisions, operators should learn as much about their job applicants as they possibly can before they hire a candidate. Additionally, conducting a compliant, in-depth applicant screening program can increase new-hire quality, reduce workplace violence and help protect against negligent hiring.

However, each step of the way in the hiring process contains potential legal risk if compliant hiring practices are not followed consistently. For example, most states recognize ...