Walmart Background Checks: Everything You Need to Know

Walmart is one of the country's leading retailers. It operates more than 10,500 stores worldwide and employs more than 2.1 million people at those stores. Walmart wants those 2.1 million people to be honest, reliable, conscientious, and dedicated. 

If you are trying to be one of those 2.1 million Walmart associates, you will likely have to undergo one crucial step in Walmart’s hiring process - a Walmart background check. 

(Walmart also requires some of its vendors’ employees to undergo background checks. If you are an employee of a Walmart vendor and have or have been asked to undergo a Walmart background check, we invite you to keep reading.)

Walmart uses background checks to:

• Verify the applicant’s or the vendor’s work history
• Verify the applicant's or the vendor’s education history
• Ensure the employee or vendor has no criminal background and, therefore, does not pose a risk to the safety of other Walmart or Walmart vendor employees
• Ensure the employee or vendor has nothing in their background to suggest they may pose a risk to the reputation or business of Walmart or Walmart vendor vendors
• If the job requires driving, ensure the applicant or vendor is a safe driver
• And ensure they meet the company's employment standards. 

Anyone eager to join the 2.1 million Walmart associates or the countless other employees who work for Walmart vendors should know some fundamental things about a Walmart background check. Most importantly, any inaccuracy or error in a Walmart background check could have long-lasting and significant consequences for the employee, potential employee, vendor, or potential vendor who is the subject of the erroneous background check. Knowing how to deal with all-too-common errors in Walmart background checks could help if you do end up facing an adverse employment decision due to an error in your Walmart background check report. 

The good news is that the background check companies Walmart uses for its background checks must obey the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) which governs how those who trade in people’s personal information must handle that information and respond to disputes about that information when necessary. 

The consumer protection and background check attorneys at Consumer Attorneys have represented thousands of people who have suffered at the hands of background and consumer reporting agencies who do not treat consumer data with the care they should. This is what we have learned and what we want you to know about Walmart background checks. 

Understanding Walmart Background Checks

There are a few things that make a Walmart background check unique. 

What is a Walmart Background Check?

Walmart uses a number of different companies to do its background checks. These include a company called backgroundchecks.com. Walmart provides backgroundchecks.com with an employee or employee candidate’s personal information and authorization to run the background check along with specifications on what and how far back the background check should go. For example, how far back in time a background check company may look for criminal activity will depend on the state in which the job candidate lives and the type of job. 

Most often, the Walmart background check involves a thorough investigation of an applicant’s criminal, employment, and educational history. This gives Walmart the information it needs to assess a candidate's suitability for employment. The check typically includes:

• Criminal records
• Employment history
• Educational qualifications
• Credit history (in some cases)
• Driving history (in some cases)
• Drug screening results

How Long Does a Walmart Background Check Take?

The time it takes to complete a Walmart background check will vary. On average, it takes between 2 to 5 business days. However, sometimes background checks will take one business day and sometimes they will take two weeks. It depends on how much information the background check company must verify, where that information is located, and the volume of background checks it must perform. It will also take longer if there are delays in retrieving information from various sources or if the candidate has a complex background.

Common Issues with Walmart Background Checks

Any issues with a Walmart background check can result in huge and very damaging consequences for a job candidate. Here are some of the most common ones. 

Walmart Background Check Disqualifications

Certain factors can disqualify a candidate from being hired by Walmart. These include:

• Felony convictions
• Recent misdemeanor offenses
• Dishonesty (false information provided on the application)
• Poor driving record
• Poor employment history

These disqualifications are part of Walmart’s policy to maintain a safe and trustworthy workforce. However, candidates must understand that not all disqualifications are absolute and irreversible. 

Failed Walmart Background Check

Failing a Walmart background check means that some part or some component of the candidate’s history did not meet the company's criteria. This could be due to:

• Criminal records that indicate a potential risk
• Inconsistencies in employment history
• Educational discrepancies
• Poor credit history (if relevant to the position)

If a candidate fails the background check, Walmart must notify them, provide them with a copy of the background check report, inform them of what component in the background check report prompted the failure, and give a summary of their rights under the FCRA.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

The FCRA provides some avenues for background check subjects to dispute their background checks. 

FCRA Background Check Walmart

The FCRA is a federal law that dictates how background check companies and companies that use background check companies must conduct those background checks. Under the FCRA, Walmart must:

• Obtain the candidate's written consent before conducting a background check
• Provide a copy of the report and a summary of rights if any adverse action (like not hiring the candidate) is taken based on the report
• Allow the job candidate to dispute any incorrect information found in the report

Incorrect Background Check

An incorrect background check can happen. In fact, they do happen with far greater frequency than they should. And when they happen, the job candidate who was eagerly waiting for the job suffers. They lose the income they would have made had they gotten the job. They suffer reputational damage. They suffer anxiety, depression, and other mental and emotional pain.  

Errors of any sort - from a spelling mistake to a misplaced punctuation mark in a street address to erroneous criminal records - can cause huge problems. The most common issues include incorrect criminal records, outdated information, or mix-ups with someone else’s records. If you believe your Walmart background check contains errors, you should

• Request and review a copy of the report. Under the FCRA, you have the right to see the information that Walmart used against you.
• Identify inaccuracies. Check for any incorrect or outdated information.
• Dispute the errors. Contact the background check company and dispute the inaccuracies. They are required to investigate and correct any errors within 30 days.
• Contact Consumer Attorneys. At any point during your dispute with the background check company that performed your Walmart background check, you can contact a background check attorney at Consumer Attorneys. Part of the FCRA requires background check companies to use reasonable care when performing its background check and assembling the report. Errors suggest the background check did not use reasonable care. Additionally, background check companies are required to investigate, correct, and re-report your information within 30 days of receiving your dispute. If the background check company fails to do any of this - we may have grounds for a lawsuit. In that lawsuit, we will work to get you the compensation you deserve for the damage the background check error caused and created for you. 

Contact a Consumer Protection Lawyer

An attorney for false credit reporting can play a crucial role in defending the rights of individuals against large corporations like Walmart. They ensure companies comply with laws designed to protect consumers from unfair practices. If you face issues with your Walmart background check, consulting an attorney can provide you with:

• Legal advice to put you in a position where - should circumstances require - you are best situated to file a lawsuit against the background check company and any other company that did not adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act or otherwise acted carelessly or negligently with your personal information, your livelihood, and your life. 
• Support throughout the whole process. 
• Assistance in filing the dispute, meeting all deadlines, preserving your rights, following up with the Walmart background check company, negotiating with the background check company, filing all necessary documents and affidavits, and finally, representing you in a court of law as we seek monetary damages for the pain and suffering background check error victims have suffered. 

Walmart background checks are a standard part of the hiring process for a company that employs more than 2.1 million people. These background checks are intended to ensure a safe and reliable workforce. However, inaccuracies in those background check reports and non-compliance with the FCRA can result in wrongful disqualifications. 

Understanding your rights and addressing potential issues with background check report can help protect your employment prospects. If you encounter problems, consulting with attorneys for consumer protection can provide support to challenge and rectify any unfair practices. By being informed and proactive, you can navigate the background check process more effectively and safeguard your employment rights. A big part of being proactive includes contacting Consumer Attorneys.