Nashville Metropolitan Area

Situated in the Middle Tennessee region, the Nashville metropolitan area is the state's largest and most significant metro, home to a robust economy and the state capital. Approximately 1.9 million people call the Nashville metro home. The region contains 14 counties, including Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson. 

With one of the country's fastest economic growth rates, the Nashville metro is an attractive area for a broad economic base far beyond its most well-known business residents—record labels such as Sony Music and the Universal Music Group. Other major employers in the area include Gibson Guitars, Cracker Barrel, Hobby Lobby, and Dollar General.

An interstate crossroads, the Nashville area is characterized by a large percentage of workers commuting to and from work. The interconnectedness of the region means that many job-seekers cross county lines to look for work. While this trend can be a boon for area businesses hungry for better talent, such a fluid job market enhances the importance of a background check policy appropriately designed for a metropolitan area. 

When was the last time your business reviewed its standard background check procedures? If you may encounter applicants from anywhere within the metro, a narrow search can leave businesses with an incomplete snapshot of an applicant's history. Consider that only checking records in a populous county such as Davidson may lead you to overlook important records held in Macon or Dickson county. A retooled policy can help your business avoid the raft of potential consequences of a hasty hiring decision.

Developing a metro-wide background check policy is the ideal way to mitigate those risks. An expanded search helps to ensure that each hiring decision you make is the right one. 

Before you implement a new approach, re-familiarize yourself with the local, state, and federal laws designed to guarantee fair hiring.

There are no ban the box laws for private employers in the region, and Tennessee has in fact barred local municipalities from expanding such rules to private businesses. State law allows for employers to ask about and consider convictions and arrests, though background checks often do not report arrests without convictions. Outside of these rules, federal statutes such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act always apply.

backgroundchecks.com offers robust resources for businesses seeking a better way to approach background checks in a metropolitan area. For the entire region, including Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson counties, our US OneSEARCH provides instant criminal record results. To take an even broader look, use a state-specific background check or customize your OneSEARCH for a regional view; this multi-jurisdictional search can include up to five states at once.

Data found in these reports includes information from the Tennessee Department of Corrections (updated quarterly), the state sex offender registry (updated bi-weekly), and supplemental data from the Tennessee Admin Office of the Courts (updated monthly). Background checks using these systems may produce reports including the subject's:

• Name and date of birth
• Offense and degree
• Judgment type
• Disposition date

For Nashville businesses, a metro-wide background check offers a straightforward way to improve every hiring decision. Explore how these tools can help your business vet applicants successfully and hire with confidence.