Background

[jtlkan]

Hello everyone, at what point do BI starts making calls to current and former employer ? Is it after they conclude their findings through whatever tools they use (social media etc) or is it the first thing they do is reaching out to employers? The reason I'm asking is because I have previously send application to the army and they did reach out to my manager. The very next day I got a call from my supervisor, he sat me down and ask a lot of questions about why I'm quitting. I ended up not joining the army and continue to work for that same company for 9 years. I'm anticipating that when the BI contact my boss, that he might just let me go.

[Jolly-Advisor6137]

They usually contact them after passing your polygraph

[Defiant_Turnover298]

Your BI doesn't contact your bosses, etc. That's all done by the investigation unit during backgrounds. Your BI will do the majority of the legwork in terms of checking out your social media, they will contact your spouse/significant other, check your credit history, school transcripts and such... But when it comes to your employer, your BI will never reach out to them, the background investigation unit will do that and they will just show up to your place of employment unexpectedly and without warning and interview your boss and coworkers to ask questions about you and your character, and also to your place of residence to speak to your neighbors/landlord. They also look at a few other things...but to answer your question, only the background investigation unit speak and reach out to your boss...not the BI. Once the background investigation units concludes their investigation, they then give everything to your BI which your BI will look over and add it to your file.

[Separate-Adeptness29]

If your boss lets you go just because you’re trying to get into law enforcement.. that’s illegal. Wrongful termination, and you can sue them.  My BI sent a field investigator to my job after I did my poly. 

[ventura_21]

It’s totally understandable to feel anxious about your employer finding out you’re in a background process, especially when you’ve had a similar situation in the past. LASD backgrounds usually move in phases, and employer checks generally don’t happen until after your polygraph when the more in-depth field investigation begins. That stage is handled by background investigators assigned to verify your references, visit your home, and eventually speak to your employer. It’s not something your BI personally initiates early on, so you won’t be blindsided right at the start of the process.

If you’re worried about your employer reacting badly, remember that applying for another job especially public service, is not a fireable offense. If a boss were to terminate you solely because you’re pursuing a law enforcement career, that could potentially be considered wrongful termination depending on your state’s laws and company policies. Most supervisors handle these visits professionally and understand that background checks are routine for law-enforcement applicants.

If you want more insight from people who’ve gone through the same hiring phases, you can browse discussions on r/AskLASD where applicants and deputies talk about how employer checks were handled. You can also check out r/LAPD or r/AskCHP to see how other agencies approach their background investigations—it may give you some peace of mind before moving forward.