Employee Screening

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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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