Employment Law Cases

Background Check for $50,000!

$50,000 is a large sum of money. You can buy a number of things with that kind of cash: cars, down payment on a condo, even live off of that kind of dough. But would you pay $50,000 for a background check to become Senator John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 presidential election? Apparently, the Republican Party Committee thinks so because according to Sarah Palin they are asking her to pay $500,000 in vetting expenses which include a $50,000 for a background screening.

According to her new memoir “Going Rouge” Sarah Palin said that she was asked to pay for the expenses incurred for being able to run as Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential election running mate. The $50,000 was only part of the lump sum of $500,000 billed to Sarah Palin. According to Palin, expenses were going to be paid if Sen. John McCain one the election but she was never told that they would charge her if they didn’t win.

Most employers include background checks in their screening process but almost always paid by the employer. This seems only fair that the employer pay for potential employees. If an employer wants to hire someone for a position but is concerned about any criminal offenses that the candidate may have committed the responsibility falls upon the employer and not the employee to pull up criminal record information. Which means any expenses incurred from any records should be paid by the employer.

Secondly, what kind of background check costs $50,000? The average background check costs around $20 - $100 but for $50,000 it must have had information about every single family member, acquaintance, relationship and meal Sarah Palin ate for the past decade in it.

Even if you are vetting for presidential candidacy you shouldn’t be treated differently from the standard business practices. Unfortunately, for Sarah Palin the Republic Party committee fully disagrees.