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Background Checks

Inadequate screenings at DCF

04/14/2008
Following the arrest of Department of Children & Families (DCF) spokesman Al Zimmerman on child pornography charges, the DCF inspector general launched a review of the department’s hiring procedures. A report on the results revealed serious security gaps …

Make common sense the driving force of your business

04/10/2008
Login Email Address Password I forgot my password To continue reading this page, become an HR Specialist Premium Plus member today! Your subscription includes: Ask the Attorney: Answers to your HR legal questions Compliance Guidance: Access to 7,000 HR news articles, updated daily, sorted by state State-by-State: Summaries of HR laws in all 50 states […]

Are background checks required in Illinois?

04/09/2008
Q. I have heard that Illinois law requires background checks for employees. Is this true? …

Background-Checking firms: How to Sort out the Best from the Rest

04/07/2008
Nearly 1,000 vendors are in the screening industry now, making it difficult to sort out the top tier from the fly-by-night firms. Good news: Starting this month, you’ll have a new yardstick on which to gauge their quality …

DCF spokesman faces child abuse charges

04/01/2008
Al Zimmerman had a solid employment record when the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) hired him as a spokesman. He was later promoted to press secretary and received good reviews, right up until his arrest for allegedly paying two teenagers to perform sexual acts while he photographed them …

Insist on thorough documentation of background check results

04/01/2008
Take care if you run background checks as part of your job application process. Be sure to document how you handle reference check calls, and document requests. You may need the files later, especially if you don’t hire the applicant in the end and he claims discrimination …

Non-Minorities can’t sue on basis of minority discrimination

03/01/2008

Good—and somewhat obvious—news: Job applicants who are not members of a protected class can’t sue for discrimination on the basis that an employer’s hiring practices discriminate against minorities …

What questions are off limits when talking to references and past employers?

03/01/2008
 Q. I understand that it’s illegal to ask applicants certain personal questions. But are there any questions I can’t ask a reference or previous employer? …

Former employees can sue for retaliation, too

03/01/2008
Until recently, courts generally have ruled that retaliation applies only to current employees. But thanks to a recent 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision, which covers North Carolina employers, it’s now clear that former employees can sue for post-discharge actions when their claims involve the Fair Labor Standards Act …

Don’t reject convicted felons unless you have legitimate business reason

02/01/2008

Q. Our hiring process involves conducting background and reference checks. If an employee has a felony conviction within the past seven years, we automatically refuse employment. Any reason we should change our policy? …