Posts by Staff
October 2017 employment: US adds 261,000 jobs
According to ‘The Employment Situation‘ report released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in the United States dropped to 4.1%, while the economy added 261,000 jobs, in October. Employment in food services and drinking places rose sharply in October (+89,000), following a decrease of 98,000 in September when…
Read MoreMaryland drops nearly 15% of new Uber, Lyft drivers for failing background checks
Nearly 15 percent of new ride-hail drivers in Maryland have been dropped from the apps over the past six months for failing state screening, despite having passed Uber and Lyft’s background checks, says state Public Service Commission (PSC). The rejections included 460 applicants with disqualifying criminal histories and 900 who were flagged because of issues…
Read MoreReport: Only 5% of employers fully utilitizing social media background checks
NAPBS and HR.com recently released a report on their latest national survey of human resources professionals. One statistic that stood out to us: Only 23% of employers perform social media background checks and only 5% perform them for all candidates. It’s surprising that the continued rise of social media use does not correlate with the rise of social…
Read More57% of Denver child-welfare workers can't prove they passed background checks
More than half of Denver child-welfare caseworkers (57%) could not prove they had passed required background checks during a recent review. This information was revealed in an audit report, published just this month. “Those who protect our smallest citizens and our aging loved ones must be held to high standards, and that includes proof of background…
Read MoreCalifornia introduces 'ban the box' law for private companies
It was almost five years ago when California passed ‘ban the box‘ legislation that applied to public state agencies, cities, and counties. Now, the private sector has followed suit. California has become the 10th state to require private-sector employers to ‘ban the box’ on employment applications asking about applicants’ criminal conviction histories. with Governor Jerry…
Read MoreNew proposal would augment background checks for ride-share drivers
A proposal to strengthen background checks for ride-share drivers, such as those who drive for services like Uber and Lyft, was recently released by the California Public Utilities Commission on their website. The proposal sets forth three enhancements: It requires that the background check companies that ride-sharing companies use be accredited by the Background Screening Credentialing…
Read MoreSeptember 2017 employment: US loses 33,000 jobs
According to ‘The Employment Situation‘ report released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US economy lost 33,000 jobs in September 2017 due to the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey while the unemployment rate declined to 4.2 percent. The jobs report revealed a steep employment decline in food services and…
Read MoreThe prescription drug crisis hits the workplace
Drug abuse in the workforce is a growing challenge for American business. Increasingly, it’s legal drugs that are having a negative affect. Most media outlets right now focus attention on the opioid epidemic’s role in keeping people out of work, but two-thirds of those who report misusing pain-relievers are already employed. This does not only…
Read MoreCalifornia bill bans asking job applicants about salary history
California employers could no longer ask job applicants about their salary history under a new bill authored by Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman, Assembly Bill (A.B.) 168. The new legislation would ban employers from requesting the pay history of a job applicant in an effort to close the gender pay gap. The bill would also require employers to…
Read MoreE-verify may soon be required for all businesses
Earlier this month, Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) introduced a bill – “The Legal Workforce Act” (H.R. 3711) – which would require all U.S. employers to use E-Verify to check the work eligibility of new hires. The bill phases in mandatory E-Verify participation for new hires in six month increments beginning on the date of enactment, depending on…
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