Background checks are increasingly becoming a key part of the hiring process for many companies. However, many employers understand that the laws governing background checks can be a complex combination of federal, state, and local regulations. To make things more complicated, these laws often change as new legislation is passed. Therefore, any employer who uses…
As laws and regulations governing employment and background checks evolve, there is often much confusion on the part of both employers and employees in terms of what is legal and allowable. One area that is especially prone to confusion is fair hiring laws, including adverse action and ban-the-box laws. Ban-the-Box Laws Explained Ban-the-box laws refer…
There is a popular movement nationwide to enact ‘Clean Slate Laws.’ These laws essentially reduce the availability of background criminal information to reduce housing and employment discrimination. With almost one in three U.S. citizens having a criminal history, these laws profoundly affect many individuals. What are Clean Slate Laws? Clean slate laws started in 2014…
It’s common for people to think that conducting a background check is much easier than it actually is in many instances. For example, some think you can simply enter a Social Security Number or an individual’s full name and location, and you will populate accurate results. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy in most cases. Criminal…
Many companies today have a far more stringent hiring process than companies in the past. Background checks and drug testing are common for most jobs. But one big recent change may streamline drug testing. For decades, lab-based urine testing was the only acceptable method for conducting workplace drug testing for many companies. However, the US…
Background checks have become a very common part of the hiring process for many companies. While it may be tempting to think that only large enterprise-level companies benefit from conducting background checks, that simply isn’t the case. Small businesses must protect their interests, time, and financial resources like large organizations. Job applicants may be likelier…
Criminal background checks are being used far more often than they have been in the past. These checks may be a prerequisite to gaining employment or securing an apartment. This rise in the frequency that background checks are required has led many to question what can legally be included in a criminal background check. Unfortunately,…
The recent pandemic has made it easier than ever before to hire employees that aren’t close to your company geographically. And while there are many challenges with remote work, technology has made it easier to address them. In addition, with many companies reporting greater productivity levels with remote working arrangements, it’s no surprise that some…
Recruiting and training staff is one of the biggest expenses for many companies, which is why employers are spending more time and effort during the hiring process. Putting resources into your employee screening can increase the likelihood of finding a candidate who is a good fit, improving employee retention. Background checks are a standard part…
Background checks are becoming more common for many reasons. And recently, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of background checks as a part of tenant screening. These checks help landlords determine who can rent their units. While some cities or states limit the information you can access during a tenant background check,…