Employers conduct background checks on current and prospective employees for many valid reasons. Background checks can be a useful tool for promoting productive business operations, weeding out workers who may threaten the workforce, preventing employee theft, protecting vulnerable business clients, and avoiding negligent hiring lawsuits. Under decades-old guidance, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) position is that employer reliance on criminal background information for employment decisions may have an unlawful adverse impact based on race.