Does background-check guidance mean my screening service needs a particular policy?
No. FTC guidance explains employer duties when an employer uses consumer reports; it does not establish an insurance requirement or decide whether your company is a consumer reporting agency.[2]
If you provide screening or recruiting services, describe data sources, who selects candidates, and who makes the hiring decision.[2][8]
Ask the broker which professional-services and data-event terms apply to your actual service. Review the definitions and exclusions.[1][6]
Read the Human Resources Insurance Buying Guide
Sources and Further Reading
- Small Business Insurance — National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Small-business coverage categories, exclusions, property interests.
- Background Checks: What Employers Need to Know — Federal Trade Commission; joint guidance with EEOC. Employer duties when using consumer reports.
Employer process when using consumer reports; not insurance advice.
- Protecting Temporary Workers — Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Shared staffing/host safety responsibilities and coordination.
Staffing/host safety coordination; not insurance allocation.
- DWC employer information — California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers’ Compensation. Employer requirement and out-of-state employer note.
California workers compensation requirement and limited out-of-state note.
- DWC FAQs for employers — California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers’ Compensation. Employee and owner distinctions in employer FAQ.
- Cyber Insurance — Federal Trade Commission (content developed with NAIC and federal partners). First-party and third-party cyber examples; not policy wording.
- Cybersecurity for Small Business — Federal Trade Commission. Supplier risk assessment and vendor-breach response.
- Launch your business — Get business insurance — U.S. Small Business Administration. Business insurance overview, common types and buying steps; broad federal mandate statement not relied on.
- Commercial Insurance Guide — California Department of Insurance. Revised June 14, 2024: buying cover; property/time-element; inland marine; equipment breakdown; GL; workers compensation; rating.
- Covered California for Small Business — Covered California. California individual versus small-business health coverage.
California employer health-plan choices.
Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this guide and works in the commercial insurance market. This is general buyer education. Policy wording and applicable state rules determine terms for a particular business.
Updated 2026-09-28. Editorial Policy
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