Archive for April 2014
Supreme Court may consider Florida drug testing law
Three years ago, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed an executive order requiring all state employees to undergo across-the-board drug tests. Since then, the order has gone to court, with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) — alongside the American Civil Liberties Union — arguing that the order ignores the 4th Amendment,…
Read MoreThings to know before running credit checks during pre-employment background screening
It’s not uncommon for employers to run credit checks on candidates during pre-employment background screening, especially if the candidate is applying for a position in which he or she would be trusted with the company’s financial records or in charge of managing funds. The point of conducting credit checks versus any other types of background…
Read MoreBill may require restrictions, random drug tests for Calif. doctors
California doctors may find new restrictions in place to prevent potential drug abuse, if a new bill passes. Supporters hope that the bill will prevent doctors from recklessly prescribing painkillers to addicts, and ensure that doctors are not under the influence themselves when practicing. The bill, called the Troy and Alana Pack Act, has already…
Read MoreCare facility’s negligent hiring puts residents at risk
A Chippewa Falls, Wis., mental health care facility was discovered to have a convicted sex offender in its employ, five months after the man had begun working at the facility as an environmental services coordinator. Lake Hallie Memory Care had hired the offender in April 2013 before a criminal background check had returned results. His…
Read MoreMarch 2014: new jobs in professional, business, food services
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate held steady at 6.7 percent in March, with 10.5 million people still unemployed. Improved job options became available in health care, professional and business services, and food and beverage services. Overall industry increases accounted for 192,000 new, non-farm jobs. Professional and business services grew by 57,000 jobs, steady…
Read MoreLouisville unanimously passes ‘ban the box’ legislation
In a 26-0 vote, the Louisville Metro Council has approved legislation that will make Louisville, Ky., the latest to ban the box. Louisville joins cities such as Charlotte, N.C., San Francisco, and Seattle, as well as states including Rhode Island and California in their efforts against discrimination. This movement prevents employers from immediately disqualifying applicants…
Read MoreObama issues executive orders regarding ‘Equal Pay Day’
On “Equal Pay Day,” which took place on April 8, President Obama issued two executive orders that will attempt to close the pay gap for women and minorities. Obama’s first order was that federal contractors would not be allowed to retaliate against their employees for discussing compensation. The second order stated that the U.S. Department…
Read MoreHow to avoid employers and social media discrimination lawsuits
Social media sites are a great resource when you’re looking to recruit new hires. However, there is concern that the information one can glean from social media sites — such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, to name a few — can cause discriminatory actions to take place, such as a qualified candidate being passed over…
Read MoreDefense Dept. to randomly screen employees with security clearances
has announced that they will begin the implementation of random background checks for department personnel who hold security clearances. The department previously has only run background checks prior to hiring, and when security clearances must be renewed; this can mean that a significant length of time — up to 10 years — can pass between…
Read MoreAvoid EEOC lawsuits with smart pre-employment background screening practices
revised and re-released in 2012. In 2013, the EEOC filed 131 lawsuits, including suits against Dollar General and BMW. “We have an obligation to move beyond the ‘safe’ cases, and to identify and address less familiar discriminatory barriers emerging from changes in the economy, technology and demographics,” said P. David Lopez, the EEOC’s General Counsel.…
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