What is the term for when an employer fails to check an employee's background resulting in injury to someone on the job?

The situation described relates to the concept of negligent hiring. This term refers to the employer's responsibility to conduct thorough background checks and assessments of potential employees before making hiring decisions. When an employer neglects this duty and, as a result, hires an individual who then causes injury or harm while on the job, the employer may be considered liable for negligent hiring.

Negligent hiring emphasizes the importance of vetting employees to ensure they possess the necessary qualifications and do not pose a risk to coworkers or the public. An employer could potentially avoid legal repercussions by taking reasonable steps to verify a candidate's background, such as checking criminal records, verifying employment history, or conducting reference checks. Failing to do so may lead to liability if an incident occurs that directly relates to the shortcomings of the hiring process.

In contrast, negligent retention involves keeping an employee who is known to pose a danger to others, while a workplace accident refers to an unforeseen incident occurring at work, without necessarily implicating employer negligence. Frivolous hiring is not a standard legal term and does not accurately capture the employer's responsibility regarding background checks in the hiring process. Thus, negligent hiring is the most appropriate term for the scenario outlined.