Background Checks

What’s the problem with checking social media accounts of applicants and employees?

08/02/2017

Q. I would like to ensure that all of the individuals working for us do not engage in morally questionable behavior. Since many people show their true selves on social media, not at work, can I check the social media profiles of applicants and employees?

Employers count on social media to screen applicants

06/15/2017

Seventy percent of employers use social media to screen candidates before hiring, according to a new survey by Harris Poll and CareerBuilder.com.

Top 10 employment application mistakes employers make

06/13/2017

Employment applications may seem innocuous, but they contain a number of minefields of which employers should be aware. In general, avoid asking applicants questions that elicit information that cannot be considered when making a hiring decision.

Under ‘ban the box,’ how to handle criminal background checks

04/19/2017

Beginning during the Great Recession, the EEOC began to aggressively push for what has become known as “ban the box”—shorthand for prohibiting employers from asking about past criminal history before making a job offer.

The real story behind 4 background check myths

04/09/2017

When it comes to selecting the best candidates, going deeper than just face value should be routine.

Legislation proposed to ‘ban the box’ statewide in Calif.

03/29/2017

A.B. 1008, a bill currently before the California legislature, would bar employers from asking about an applicant’s criminal history before making a conditional job offer.

Proposed regs: Criminal history inquiries can raise employer liability

02/27/2017

Employers should proceed with caution when using criminal histories to make employment decisions.

Los Angeles enacts tough new ‘ban the box’ law

01/30/2017

On Dec. 9, the city of Los Angeles enacted the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring (LAFCIH), a “ban the box” law that took effect Jan. 22, 2017.

Still not doing background checks on all new hires?

12/22/2016

More than one-quarter (28%) of employers are in the same boat.

Simple steps to keep ‘Bah! Humbug!’ out of seasonal hiring

12/12/2016

What’s an HR department to do when faced with the challenge of recruiting, onboarding and training so many new hires?