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An employment adverse action letter is sent to a job applicant to inform them they were not accepted for the position they applied for. It is used when the hiring company ran a background check on the applicant and found disqualifying info. This may be due to criminal history, employment history, or a background check on the individual that made the employers think the applicant would not be suitable for employment.
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EMPLOYMENT ADVERSE ACTION LETTER
Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Applicant Name: [APPLICANT NAME]
Address: [APPLICANT ADDRESS]
Dear [APPLICANT FIRST NAME],
We regret to inform you that based on our hiring criteria, we are unable to consider you further for an employment opportunity with our organization. This decision was made in part from the information we received from [REPORT PROVIDER]. Our employment screening vendor does not make these decisions and is unable to provide you with the specific reasons for them.
In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have previously received a copy of your report and a copy of your consumer rights under the Act. You also have the right to obtain a free copy of your report within 60 days of the receipt of this letter by contacting [REPORT CONTACT] at the address and telephone number listed below. Please refer to these documents if you have further questions. You have the right to dispute the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in your report by contacting:
Agency name: [AGENCY NAME]
Agency address: [AGENCY ADDRESS]
Agency phone number: [AGENCY PHONE]
Any dispute regarding the information on your report must be resolved with [AGENCY PHONE].
Thank you for your interest in employment with our organization.
Sincerely,
______________________________
[SENDER NAME]
[SENDER TITLE]
Why It’s Important
The term “adverse action” itself doesn’t directly relate to rejecting a candidate for a job position. It covers any decision made by an employer that negatively affects a person’s job outlook, which can include rejecting promotion and demoting.
Issuing an adverse action notice is a requirement of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which provides transparency into the consumer reporting process. It gives the candidate the reason(s) for their rejection and provides them with disclosures that inform them on how they can obtain a copy of the report (for free), and who to talk to regarding their rejection. A company can open themselves up to being sued should they neglect to send the notice.
The Adverse Action Process
After collecting a candidate’s application, receiving their consent to run a background check, and finding information that may lead to their rejection, the employer will need to complete the following steps:
1 – Issue the Pre-Adverse Action Notice
The pre-adverse action letter is a document that informs the candidate that the employer may need to take adverse action regarding their application. If the employer finds a reason for rejection due to information not found in a consumer report (background check), the notice does not necessarily need to be issued. The letter should be sent via certified mail, providing the employer with verifiable proof that the notice was sent to the candidate.
2 – Wait 5-10 Days
The FCRA states a “reasonable” amount of time must be provided to the applicant. Five (5) to ten (10) business days is considered acceptable, although it’s worth noting state laws may have their own requirements.
3 – Send the Adverse Action Notice
As long as the candidate has not claimed inaccuracies in the report, the employer can proceed with issuing the adverse action notice. Like the pre-adverse action notice, this should be sent via certified mail, although the FCRA permits the notice to be given verbally or electronically as well.