How Do Employers Use Background Checks? Employers typically use background checks when making decisions about whom they should hire for a particular position. They might also use them when deciding whether or not to renew an employee’s contract or promote them within the company. Some employers even use them as part of their onboarding process; this way, they can be sure that their new employees have provided accurate information about themselves prior to starting work at their organization. Finally, employers might also use background checks when conducting investigations into employee misconduct or suspicious activity within their workplace; this helps them determine whether any laws were broken or if there was any inappropriate behavior involved in the incident in question.