March 2016 employment: US adds 215,000 jobs

The Employment Situation’ news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy added 215,000 jobs in March while the unemployment rate and unemployed persons was  little changed at 5.0 percent and 8 million respectively. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (4.5 percent), adult women (4.6 percent), teenagers (15.9…

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Study: Bans on employment credit checks leads to higher unemployment

In the past decade, most states have banned or have considered banning the use of credit checks in hiring decisions. Using Equifax data on employer credit checks, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax, and the LEHD Origin-Destination Employment data, Harvard Kennedy School showed that these bans increased employment of residents in…

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What to expect at the NAPBS 2016 Mid-Year Conference

NAPBS Mid-Year Legislative and Regulatory Conference kicks off in Washington D.C. The event focuses on regulation, legislation, education, and compliance related to the background screening industry, as well as offering networking opportunities for background screening professionals. Following the formal opening ceremony on Sunday, Monday’s schedule is packed with educational sessions. Content includes discussion around recent…

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An employer's 10-step adverse action checklist

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), when employment is denied following a background check. The first step is a pre-adverse notice, sent before a final decision is made. The second step is a notification of adverse action, sent once a hiring decision is made. Adverse action has a critical role to play in effective hiring, but…

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Home Depot to pay $19.5 million for data breach

according to a report from Reuters The home improvement retailer also agreed to improve data security over a two-year period and hire a chief information security officer to oversee its progress. It will separately pay legal fees and related costs for affected consumers. The breach affected people who used payment cards on its self-checkout terminals in…

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EEOC provides new fact sheet for small businesses

here. A product of EEOC’s Small Business Task Force led by Commissioner Constance S. Barker, whose goal is to provide small businesses ready access to plainly written, easily understood information, through the use of the internet, social media, and other sources. The fact sheet focuses specifically on the needs of startups and companies that are…

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EEOC files its first two lawsuits accusing employers of gender bias

the EEOC filed its first two lawsuits accusing employers of gender bias for discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation. Specifically, both cases allege employee harassment on the basis of sexual orientation. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination because of sex. As the federal law enforcement agency charged…

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