Since 70 million people in the U.S. have a criminal record, it makes sense that employers conduct criminal background checks so they can make informed decisions about applicants. The problem is that many myths abound regarding criminal background checks, so we decided to round up some of the biggest offenders and bust them for good.
As the year winds down, something on the minds of many HR professionals is whether they have the hiring and retention practices in place they’ll need for 2019. This evaluation begins with a critical look at their current background screening provider, as well as one important question:
12/5/18
Planning Your Budget for 2019? Now's a Good Time to Evaluate Your Background Screening Program
As you begin planning for next year, now's a good time to carefully consider your current background screening program - not simply in terms of cost, but also in terms of the value it's providing your business.
With FCRA compliance litigation rising yet again in 2017, major companies such as Uber, J.P. Morgan, and Avis saw multi-million dollar settlements for FCRA noncompliance issues. According to the latest statistics from WebRecon LLC, this was the 17th year in a row these numbers have risen – with a 42 percent increase in the last three years alone.
Note: This article is an excerpt from our new ebook, “The Employee Engagement Dilemma: Why Happy Employees Aren’t Always Engaged – And What You Can do About it.” To download and read the full ebook, click here.
When State Governor Jay Inslee signed the Washington Fair Chance Act last week, the state joined the rest of the West Coast in enacting state-wide Ban the Box legislation. When it goes into effect on June 6, most employers in the state will be prohibited from asking about criminal arrests and convictions, receiving information through a criminal history background check, or otherwise obtaining information about an applicant’s criminal record, before they determine whether an applicant is otherwise qualified for the position.
If you are making any negative decision based on information contained in a background check report, you must follow FCRA Adverse Action procedures (F.C.R.A. §604 (b), 15 U.S.C. §1681b).
The online caregiving giant Care.com was recently ordered to pay almost a half million dollars due to holes in its background screening process. The lawsuit comes after several incidents where caregivers found on Care.com (all of whom passed background checks) victimized the families who hired them through the website.
A criminal background check is a key part of the pre-employment screening process, as it can provide a deeper understanding of a person's character and trustworthiness - along with whether they have the potential to compromise the safety of your workplace.
