Liar Liar Pants On Fire - What’s Hot in Background Screening News
April 2, 2013
Welcome to another edition of “What’s hot in employee background screening news”. If you want to learn more about background screening and privacy issues, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the interesting items that caught our attention last month.
Can you spot the fake reference?
Sites offering fake reference services continue to spring up. A company called the Reference Store provides fake references for professionals with questionable work histories. The founder of the business said his site fabricates professional resumes and provides credible telephone references for as little as $50.
This is a good time to review your Facebook privacy settings
Facebook has a new tool called Graph Search that lets you search for people based on their Facebook activity. The new tool searches across all of Facebook and you need to be aware of posts from family, friends, and coworkers that may contain information about you that ought to be private, especially photos and videos.
Facebook Photos Reveal Employee Dishonesty, Termination of RN on FMLA Leave
A registered nurse (RN) claimed she could walk and stand only for limited periods and required FMLA leave. Her coworkers discovered Facebook photos that told a different story.
You will be Googled
Chances are high that a recruiter or hiring manager will Google you online before offering you an interview or job. Here are five easy things you can do to manage your online reputation.
New I-9 Form Finally Released; Employers Must Use It by May 7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the release of the new I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. All employers are required to use the new I-9 immediately to verify the identity and employment authorization eligibility of their employees.
When HR Googles A Candidate, Everyone Loses
“When HR googles a candidate, everyone loses. If you want to know who you are hiring, ask that person. Then hire a third-party background check organization to verify what you have been told. That’s called recruiting.”
12 simple steps to safer social networking
“It’s impossible to remain completely anonymous while you’re using social media—anonymity would defeat the point—but every network has a few key, commonly overlooked privacy settings that take only minutes to set up and drastically improve the security of your shared data.”
Photo Credit: ktylerconk
Stay in touch…
Insanely Simple Employee Background Screening
June 15, 2012
I recently read Ken Segall’s new book “Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple’s Success”. Ken Segall is an advertising executive who worked closely with Steve Jobs for over 12 years at NeXT and Apple. He’s the guy who came up with the iconic iMac name and helped develop Apple’s famous “Think different” campaign.
The book takes you on an entertaining and insightful journey through Steve Jobs’ world. You understand how Jobs’ love of Simplicity made Apple one of the most successful companies in the world.
This got me thinking about my own company and how much I love Simplicity. Employee background screening is a complicated process that is getting more complicated every day. But we make it simple. Our cloud-based employee screening software is incredibly easy to use.
You log in, enter the applicant’s SSN, a few clicks to verify the information and your background check gets ordered. No more time consuming data entry and errors. We make sure you receive an accurate, compliant background check.
Insanely simple employee background screening
Employers Beware - What’s Hot in Background Screening News
March 2, 2012
Welcome to our monthly edition of “What’s hot in employee background screening news”. If you want to become smarter about background screening, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the news items that caught our attention last month.
FTC Warns Marketers That Mobile Apps May Violate FCRA
The Federal Trade Commission warned marketers of six mobile applications that provide background screening apps that they may be violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The FTC warned the apps marketers that, if they have reason to believe the background reports they provide are being used for employment screening, housing, credit, or other similar purposes, they must comply with the Act.
The Domino’s Effect: How Following the Letter of the FCRA Could Save your Business from a Litigation Chain Reaction
The recent decision of Singleton v. Domino’s Pizza highlights the danger for employers of not complying with the letter of the FCRA. Several delivery drivers filed a putative class action against Domino’s in federal court in Maryland. The case presented a number of issues, including whether Domino’s disclosure form complied with the FCRA despite also including a liability release.
Pepsi and Criminal Background Checks: Beyond the Buzz
Some of you may have heard in the news that Pepsi Beverages recently agreed to pay $3.1 million to settle a racial discrimination case brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) involving criminal background checks. It seems Pepsi used criminal background checks to screen out not only job applicants with criminal convictions, but also those arrested for or convicted of minor offenses. What does this case mean for employers? Do you conduct criminal background checks on your job applicants? Judging from the buzz in the media, the subject of criminal background checks for job applicants is a real hot button! Employers who do not screen candidates are vulnerable to negligent hiring suits if the employee either steals from the company or commits some other type of crime— especially if pre-employment screening could have prevented the situation.
Ohio Tries to Ease Job Hunts of Ex-Cons
Gov. John Kasich’s administration is working with private organizations to help knock down barriers created for past offenders by 800 sanctions attached to scores of laws. The state still will conduct criminal-background checks on job applicants, but only after initial screening based on qualifications.
Behind the Mask: How to Effectively Evaluate a Candidate Before Interviewing
Have you ever been surprised to find out that you were completely wrong about someone you thought you knew? This can happen in the workplace too, but with bigger consequences. Sometimes a great new hire doesn’t turn out to be the shining star they appeared to be during the interview process. There are some important factors to consider when making major hiring decisions that can help you avoid hiring a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The bottom line of the information you’re about to read is this: Get to know your hires as well as possible before you make them an offer and definitely before they show up to work and begin to display their true colors!
Colorado Trying to Limit Use of Credit Checks in Employment
Colorado Senators gave initial approval to a measure restricting employers from using consumer credit information against job applicants unless the job they’re applying for is in the financial or security sectors.
Illinois Online Dating Crackdown: Criminal Background Checks Could Be Coming To State Sites
Anyone who has ever joined an online dating site can probably speak about the risks: the creepy messages, bad dates and failed relationships. But Illinois lawmakers believe there is more than just emotional danger lurking online, and could muscle dating sites into requiring criminal background checks.
Photo Credit: twicepix
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Top 10 Employee Background Screening Posts For 2011
December 27, 2011
The use of credit and criminal history records in employment screening were the most widely-read posts from our blog in 2011. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you informed of the latest trends, best practices and legal compliance issues for employee background screening in 2012.
Our most widely-read posts of the year:
- Lying On Your Resume Is Not Good For Your Career
- How To Use Credit Reports For Employment Background Checks
- Is It Legal For An Employer To Charge A Potential Employee For A Background Check?
- Six Myths About Using Credit Reports For Employment Screening
- 3 Myths About Employing People With Criminal Histories
- People With Criminal Records “Need Not Apply”
- EEOC Examines Arrest and Conviction Records as a Hiring Barrier
- Do You Do Social Media Background Checks?
- How To Check Your Own Employment Eligibility In The United States
- The Importance of Quality Background Checks - What’s Hot in Background Screening News
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Top 10 Employee Background Screening Posts For 2010
December 17, 2010
Social screening candidates, increasingly complex compliance issues for employers and workplace violence articles were the most widely-read posts from our blog in 2010. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you informed of the latest trends, best practices and legal compliance issues for employee background screening in 2011.
Below you’ll find our most widely-read posts of the year:
- Q&A On Using Social Networks For Background Screening
- Social Media And Employee Background Screening
- 8 Tips On How Employers Can Minimize Risk Of Workplace Violence
- Is Your Employee Background Screening Policy Up To Date?
- Everything You Need To Know About Form I-9 Compliance
- Legislative Alert - Maryland HB175 Seeks to Limit Use of Credit Reports by Employers
- Hundreds Of Felons Admitted To Ohio Schools
- How To Reduce The Risk Of Workplace Violence
- Over 100 Employee Background Screening Resources
- 10 Things You Probably Don’t Want To Post On Facebook If You’re Looking For A Job
Photo credit: Daquella manera
FYI Screening On Twitter
August 19, 2010
Having trouble keeping up with all there is to know about employee background screening?
We can help.
FYI Screening stays on top of the latest industry news, trends and relevant compliance issues.
We are a powerful source of advice, information, and experience.
One of the best ways to tap into our vast source of information is to follow us on Twitter.
Here is a sampling of tweets from the past two weeks:
- Ohio bill going too far to protect ex-convicts? Police would have to seal files, media delete old stories http://bit.ly/91Zoe9 #in #hr
- Employee Background Screening News: Former felons feel boxed in by crime question http://bit.ly/bIJ39E
- #Privacy Alert: 60% of Americans don’t know copiers store images on hard drives http://bit.ly/b9QWoR (watch the video)
- Excellent tips on what employers can do to help prevent workplace violence http://bit.ly/cP0T6k
- Investigation: Could background check have prevented alleged rape? http://bit.ly/b8SAqX
- MA employers need to review their background check policies to comply with new state law http://bit.ly/bJ9gRW (PDF via Ogletree, Deakins)
- Job applicants: How to prepare for a background check http://bit.ly/bNyutR #jobs
- Cash-strapped Indiana nixes nurse background check program http://bit.ly/asR7cs
- IL joins other states in making it illegal for employers to use credit histories to evaluate job seekers http://bit.ly/dwT9kn #hr #in #jobs
- Governor Signs CORI Reform Prohibiting MA Employers from Inquiring About Criminal Convictions on “Initial” Applications http://bit.ly/bX6TOL
- Background check news: NYC lawsuit: Census Bureau discriminated in hiring http://bit.ly/a3wmXu #hr #emplaw
What are you waiting for? Follow us on Twitter now!
Image credit: rafeejewell
Over 100 Employee Background Screening Resources
June 7, 2010
Our YouTube Story On Employee Background Screening
May 12, 2010
The Best Of FYI Screening 2009
December 30, 2009
2009 was a year that social media surged and the use of social networks for employee background screening was frequently debated. We saw resume fraud, diploma mills and fake employment websites flourish. During this time we’ve used our blog to keep you informed of these trends, best practices and legal compliance issues. Look to FYI Screening for more of this in 2010.
Below you’ll find our most widely-read posts of the year:
- The Importance Of Post-Hire Background Checks
- 4 Tips On How To Use Social Networks For Employee Screening
- The Dangers of Using Social Networks for Employee Screening
- Diploma Mills: Degrees of Deception
- 5 Legal Reasons Why Your Company Should Have a Social Networking Policy
- The Other Background Check: What Does Google Have To Say About You?
- Resume Fraud A Growing Concern
- Twitter and Employment Law Issues
- Job Applicants Are More Likely To Lie As The Recession Grows
- The Pitfalls Of Using Social Networking To Screen Potential Employees
Happy New Year!
Photo credit: berk2804
How To Protect Your Company When Googling Job Applicants
November 12, 2009
Earlier this week I wrote how 100% Of Companies Will Be Using Social Networks As Part Of Their Employee Screening Program By 2012.
Jon Hyman from the Ohio Employer’s Law Blog read this post and offers some advice on how employers can protect themselves when they use social networks to screen applicants.
- Read Googling job applicants from the Ohio Employer’s Law Blog.
