pre-employment background checks
N.Y. Governor signs law requiring background checks for volunteer firefighters
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a new law earlier this month, under which new volunteer firefighters in the state will undergo criminal background checks to prevent sex offenders from working with vulnerable residents. Current volunteer firefighters may also be screened — and let go — if they have certain types of convictions on their…
Read MoreFair fear: employees not screened regularly, consistently
There’s something new to keep in mind when it comes to visiting your state and local fairs this summer and fall, and it’s not your cholesterol after consuming new iterations of unusual fried goodies. Two companies that are hired out to various fairs and carnivals in Washington and Oregon have had problems with hiring criminals…
Read MoreOregon veterinarians may find background checks necessary for licensing
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board (OVMEB) is considering requiring criminal background checks for those applying for their licenses to practice veterinary medicine. The request for veterinary background checks was not prompted by any particular incident or complaint, though a March audit of Oregon’s health organizations states that veterinarians should be screened because of their…
Read MoreSmall businesses: EEOC background check guidance ‘confusing’
During a hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives in mid-June, a conversation about employers conducting criminal background checks on prospective employees led to a discussion about whether or not the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Enforcement Guidance is clear and fair to those who own small businesses. The document spans 58 pages, and can occasionally…
Read MoreAudit: Mo. school district should update required types of background checks
After an internal audit, a Springfield, Mo., school district is considering adding more current types of background checks to its hiring and retention policies, including fingerprinting all long-time employees. According to an internal audit report, fingerprint-based background checks did not become district policy until January 1, 2005, and Springfield Public Schools has not fingerprinted employees that…
Read MoreDelaware, schools reconsidering background check policy after alleged assaults
After four students in the Woodbridge School District came forward with allegations that they’d been sexually assaulted by their teachers, Woodbridge School District and the Delaware House of Representatives are reconsidering their current background screening legislation and policies. Currently, the state allows new teachers to begin working before all background checks have been completed, a…
Read MoreO’Reilly Auto Parts sued over pre-employment credit report violations
Three branches of O’Reilly Auto Parts stores are being taken to court in California after a prospective employee claimed that his employment offer was revoked after a credit check, and that he was not given the chance to review it for accuracy per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Raphael Saye had received a job offer…
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 MoreThree industries that should conduct pre-employment background screening
“possibly a few other specific jobs,” Clark wrote, though he stated that the majority of those who worked in departments such as public health, auditing services and county records prior to 2014 did not undergo any types of background checks in order to obtain their positions. Clark argued that the lack of pre-employment background screening…
Read MoreTypes of background checks, and what you can expect
Some states now have “ban the box” laws to prevent discrimination; however, in some occupations, a felony can disqualify you from consideration, such as jobs in which employees are expected to work with children.) When you hire a background screening company, they get in touch with a candidate’s past employers, the county clerk in the…
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