Final answer:
The main legal reason for thorough background checks during the hiring process is to prevent discrimination against protected classes and ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws, notably those administered by the EEOC.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main legal reason for performing a thorough background check of all applicants is to avoid discrimination against protected classes. Employers conduct background checks to ensure they are not making hiring decisions based on prohibited criteria such as race, age, sex, religion, national origin, or disability, as enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This is also to ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws.
Conducting a thorough background check helps to maintain a fair hiring process by verifying the information provided on resumes and applications thus, indirectly preventing resume fraud. However, the distinction lies in the fact that background checks primarily serve to avoid discrimination by focusing on job-related information and making sure the workplace complies with legal standards for equality.