UPS background checks (what they check, how far back + more)
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UPS is known for offering competitive compensation, but it’s also known for conducting background checks on all potential employees.
So, what does UPS look for in a background check, and what else do you need to know about the background check process? If you want to know, keep reading!
What is the UPS background check in 2022?
UPS conducts routine background checks on all potential employees to reveal all criminal charges. UPS tends to disqualify candidates based on allegations involving theft, drug or alcohol abuse, and allegations of violence, depending on the position being applied for. UPS background checks span the past 7-10 years and may take up to three weeks to produce results by 2022.
If you’re interested in applying for a job at UPS, or just want to better understand the background check process, be sure to keep reading to learn more!
What does UPS look for in a background check?
Any company that conducts background checks on potential employees usually does it for one reason: to help de-risk the company.
In layman’s terms, this means that if a company conducts a background check on you, it’s because management wants to make sure that hiring you is a safe bet.
This is also to ensure that you are not putting your company’s reputation or profits at risk.
As a result, most background checks look for indicators of increased risk, which would be considered charges involving theft, drugs, alcohol or violent conduct.
These aren’t the only charges UPS can get at, however — doing a background check on anyone pulls up their entire criminal history.
It’s important to remember that any disputes you have with law enforcement will be seen by potential employers like UPS who are conducting background checks, including small charges.
Some background checks can even check your financial history, such as your credit score and bankruptcy record.
However, it is unclear whether these factors are visible in UPS background checks.
Petty crimes, misdemeanors, and parking tickets are often ignored, especially if they’re not recent.
However, this may vary depending on the position you are applying for, making us ineligible for UPS background checks.
What are the disqualifying factors for the UPS background check?
To reiterate, the entire purpose of conducting background checks on potential employees is to help reduce the risk UPS faces when hiring any particular employee.
This means that no matter what position you are applying for, there are certain general things that will disqualify you from working at UPS.
You will be disqualified from employment with UPS if you record any of the following expenses:
- serious attack
- break in
- child abuse or pornography
- Drug cultivation and manufacturing
- drug delivery
- drug trafficking
- driving under the influence
- Drunk driving
- embezzlement
- extortion
- forge
- fraud
- hate crime
- kill
- kidnapping
- rape
- robbery
- sexual assault
- track
- theft
Therefore, almost any crime, including violence, alcohol/drugs, or theft, will disqualify you from working at UPS, no matter what position you apply for.
There may be some leeway in some cases, but special cases are rare.
If you have one of these allegations on your record over the past 10 years, be sure to speak with your hiring manager to see if you are at risk of disqualification.
In addition to the costs listed above that may disqualify you from employment, UPS may use a number of other factors in its decision not to hire you.
These other factors are closely related to the position you are applying for.
For example, if you apply to be a driver for UPS and have a speeding ticket, accident, or any vehicle-related expenses on file, you may be denied employment.
If you have any questions about background checks or criminal records, be sure to consult your hiring manager and the attorney handling your case for more information.
How far back do UPS background checks go?
Almost all background checks show a full criminal record.
This means that from the time you are 18 until now, the employer has access to any criminal charges or violations of the law.
However, just because all of this information is available does not mean that all of this information is taken into account.
People grow and change all the time, and UPS is one of many employers who believe that people make mistakes and that those mistakes shouldn’t haunt them for the rest of their lives.
With this in mind, UPS tends to only look at recent criminal history, which means management looks at records from the past 7 to 10 years.
There are many resources online to help those convicted of felonies find employment.
While UPS has yet to make an official announcement, the company has in-depth coverage on several reliable pages like the Relaunch Pad.
How long does a UPS background check take?
Typically, UPS will only offer a job offer after the results of the background check come back and the hiring manager has a chance to review it.
Background check requirements and how long it takes may vary from state to state.
This is because UPS background checks take into account criminal conduct at the state and federal level, and a separate background check is sometimes necessary to obtain all accurate information.
That being said, the typical turnaround time for a background check seems to be one to three weeks.
There are a number of useful websites designed to provide potential employees at certain companies with insights into the hiring process and day-to-day schedule for specific positions.
For example, you can view the UPS Indeed page.
This page is an excellent resource for questions related to background checks, from disqualification factors to how long it takes to receive a response from a hiring manager.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on UPS Attendance Policy, UPS Shoes Policy, and UPS Vacation Policy.
in conclusion
UPS conducts relatively standard background checks on all potential employees, investigating criminal histories over the past 7 to 10 years.
While background checks can reveal everything from parking tickets to felonies, UPS tends to pay close attention to charges involving drugs, alcohol, theft and violence because candidates for those charges pose a greater risk to the company than others.
