Background Checks

Verifying education claims? Don’t just call the school

05/01/2004

Issue: Applicants are taking rÃ©sumÃ© fraud to a new high-tech level.
Risk: Hackers could alter an applicant’s school records, undermining your background check …

Don’t rely on ‘self-service’ background checks

04/01/2004

If job candidates approach you with a written report attesting to the validity of their rÃ©sumÃ©s, don’t stop your background check there. Probe deeper with your own, independent check. New …

Don’t count on total immunity from references

04/01/2004

Q. I have a question about providing honest feedback during reference requests. Is it better to defend the fact that I provided a truthful (negative) assessment, rather than trying to explain why I can’t give any reference at all? Aren’t we protected by negligent referral and reference immunity laws? —M.R., Utah

How to prevent growing risk of ‘negligent supervision’ suits

03/01/2004

Thorough background checks can help you defeat any negligent hiring claim.
But what if applicants’ background checks come up clean, yet they begin displaying troublesome behavior at your workplace. In …

‘Angel of death’ case highlights the risk of negligent hiring lawsuits

02/01/2004

When news reports surfaced in December that a New Jersey hospital nurse admitted to killing 30 to 40 patients in his 14-year career, a pattern of lax background checks emerged.
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No need to get employees’ OK before misconduct investigations

01/01/2004

Good news: Your organization no longer has to notify employees suspected of workplace misconduct that they are targets of third-party investigations. That’s because Congress recently reauthorized the Fair Credit Reporting Act …

Warning: Temp agencies will not do your homework

01/01/2004

Issue: Temporary workers who are hired on as employees often fly under the radar of pre-employment checks. Risk: No legal recourse if your temp-turned-employee goes bad. Action: Treat temps …