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.
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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
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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!
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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!
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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.
Florida Lawmakers Pledge Changes To Their Background Screening Program
October 5, 2009
Last week we reported about Florida’s Flawed Background Screening System and now Florida lawmakers are talking about making changes to the state system.
Laxness, Loopholes In Background Checks Of Child And Elder Care Workers
Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida legislators pledged to overhaul state law to require that caregivers for children and the elderly undergo background checks before they begin work and to close loopholes that have let thousands of felons get jobs in day care and nursing homes.
The proposed reforms come after a Sun Sentinel investigative series last week identified disturbing flaws in the background screening system that allow people to work with Florida’s most vulnerable residents before the caregivers have been vetted.
Even people with criminal pasts can qualify for jobs as caregivers by obtaining an exemption. Thousands have sought and won official permission to work despite having records for crimes including rape, child abuse and murder, the newspaper found.
“What you have discovered is something the Legislature needs to get more serious about and get on top of immediately,” state Rep. Ari Porth, D-Coral Springs, told the Sun Sentinel. A state prosecutor, Porth is drafting legislation to require pre-employment checks and put restrictions on who can get exemptions.
George Sheldon, secretary of Florida’s Department of Children & Families, called reforming the system “a legislative priority for a number of agencies.”
“It just makes sense that the public is assured that those people who are dealing with the most vulnerable have been closely screened,” Sheldon said.
As a result of the Sun Sentinel investigation, Sheldon wrote a four-page letter Thursday to state legislators outlining his plan for a “faster, more efficient system to protect our vulnerable citizens.”
Read more here.
FYI Screening offers a wide array of customized background screening solutions to meet any need. Human Resources and Loss Prevention Professionals in numerous industries worldwide trust FYI’s screening solutions every day to make smarter, safer and more cost effective hiring decisions.
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Best Employee Screening Articles For August & September 2009
October 1, 2009
In case you missed any of our employee screening articles for August and September, here’s a quick recap of our most popular:
- Recruiters Are Checking You Out On Facebook
- Top 10 Articles On Employee Screening
- The Secret of Successful Hiring
- Truth and Lies On Resumes
- More Background Checks
- Sex Offenders In Ohio
- Florida’s Flawed Background Screening System
- The Pros & Cons of Googling Candidates
Smart, Compliant Hiring Decisions Made Easy
FYI Screening, Inc. is a leading provider of on-demand, easy to use employee screening solutions.
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