Can I go to jail if I lied on the employee background check and signed?

Question

I wrote I worked at these places that I didn't because I really need the job. They are doing a criminal records check, I think. But If I take the job I will probably start working before they even find out. I also used my friends to be my reference and they already talked to them, but they are now going to do a criminal records check I think.

Answer 1

No. don't worry. Unless you say you are a dentist or something and you are not...no probs. It is not illegal to lie! :)

Answer 2

Since they perform the background check and you don't state what will be in it, no on that part. But on most applications you sign an agreement that says, "I the undersigned do hereby state that the previous information I have provided to you is honest. Furthermore I understand that if any of the information I have provided you is false it may be grounds for immediate dismissal from my employment and may prohibit future employment opportunities at this establishment." Jail is almost certainly no. Because if it shows up on your record you've already been charged with it.  

Answer 3

If your going to be an insurance agent or some kind of licensed professional you might be in trouble, but for basic jobs IF they don't find out from your background check (they usually do call previous employers) and they ever do find out they will fire you for lying on your application and then you also have a bad reference for your next job hunt.  It's not worth it, just tell them the truth to begin with, if you start out with a lie it will never end well.  I worked for several years in a Human Resources office and we hired people with bad backgrounds that told us up front what was there.  We also found applicants that we loved that lied on their applications and we turned them down during the background check phase.  Kinda ticks the employer off to waste their money on a background check and then have it come back with surprises on it...

Answer 4

It appears that you do not have a criminal background, so no need to worry about that haunting you. On the other hand you lied about working at other places you did not work at, if who ever you are applying with checks on you previous employment and finds out that you provided false information, it could be grounds for firing you or for not hiring you. Honesty is the best policy. And no you are not going to jail, yet.

Answer 5

No, you will not go to jail, but if they check out your employers, you probably won't get the job.  Many background checks include a verification of your past employers and if they do, they will find out you never worked there.

Answer 6

No you may not. You'll just simply not get employment. You'll only go to jail if its something illegal that you havent been caught for yet.