June 1, 2008
Background Checks:  What You need to know

With background screening now the norm, employers and employees should be aware of how checks are done and how to protect themselves. Most jobs nowadays, from cashier to a senior executive, require a background check.

May 14, 2008
Set a clear policy for alcohol and drug testing

Private employers have the right to test their employees for drug use in certain situations. Employers who wish to test employees for drugs or alcohol must devise a policy setting forth the circumstances under which applicants and employees may be tested.


May 14, 2008
Counseling Against Violence
An employee-assistance provider recently settled a lawsuit stemming from a fatal 2003 workplace shooting. In addition to enacting proper policies and procedures, HR leaders should make sure their EAPs clearly communicate and address issues of violence when workers are referred.

May 14, 2008
Don't Let a Background Check
Knock Out Your Candidacy
Forget about Big Brother. Your next prospective employer is likely to take an uncomfortably close-up look at you.
In this post-9/11 and corporate-scandal age, "employers want to know exactly who's working for them,"

April 9, 2008
Pleasantville official's arrest spurs call for new law
PLEASANTVILLE - When a city councilman was arrested on traffic warrants last week, police Capt. Frank Balles called it an embarrassment. Now, he wants the city to make sure it doesn't happen again. Balles asked City Council to pass an ordinance requiring background checks of all municipal employees.

April 9, 2008
Unit 5, any district shouldn't pass along 'bad apples'
Bloomington, IL - Former Unit 5 elementary school teacher Jon White apologized in Champaign County court before being sentenced Friday to 48 years in prison for the sexual abuse of eight children.

February 20, 2008
Assisted Living Facility Owner Convicted Sex Offender
FRUITLAND, Md. -- The WBAL TV 11 News I-Team put the assisted living industry under the microscope again two years after it began investigating the industry, and I-Team reporter Deborah Weiner says recent developments are nothing short of a shocker.

January 29, 2008
Bill requires background checks for child-care providers
Posted: 6:40 PM- The House on Friday passed a bill requiring all child-care providers to undergo background checks, and those who have felonies and certain misdemeanors would not be eligible to receive state funds.

January 4, 2008
Conducting Employee Background Checks: Navigating Current Rules
In recent years, an ever-increasing number of employers are conducting some form of background checks on job applicants and employees. In fact, in a 2004 study, the Society for Human Resource Management reported that 96 percent of human resource professionals indicated that their companies conduct some form of reference checks on prospective hires. That number nearly doubled from 51 percent less than a decade ago.

December 20, 2007
Big Ten to do background checks on refs
The Big Ten will begin annual background checks on its football and basketball officials in response to a report about the checkered legal and financial record of one of its football officials.

December 14, 2007
Hire an Illegal Worker, Lose Your Business
In the 20-plus years since starting out as a cook, Jason LeVecke has built up one of the biggest restaurant chains in Arizona. He now boasts 1,200 employees manning 57 Carl's Jr.s across the state--ten of them added this year alone. But on Jan. 1, a new law takes effect in Arizona that would severely punish businesses caught hiring illegal immigrants.

December 5, 2007
CSU implements new background check policy after employee arrest
FORT COLLINS – Colorado State University is instituting a new background check policy a day after an employee was arrested for multiple sexual assaults and burglaries.

November 28, 2007
Aviation workers soon to get more criminal checks
WASHINGTON — More than a million aviation workers — including pilots, mechanics and flight attendants — will begin undergoing more thorough background checks in January as the U.S. focuses on preventing insider terrorist attacks.

November 19, 2007
Diocese gives precedence to background checks
ROMEOVILLE—A potential predator will “think twice” before attempting to gain a paid or volunteer position that calls for him or her to work with children at parishes in the Diocese of Joliet, said Franciscan Sister Judith Davies, chancellor of the diocese, speaking about background checks that are mandatory for staff and volunteers who deal with youngsters in church or school settings.

October 18, 2007
Background Checks Intensive For Police Chief Candidates
MILWAUKEEE -- Intensive background checks will continue for the five finalists vying to become Milwaukee's next police chief, after some controversy surfaced surrounding a couple of the candidates, Mayor Tom Barrett said Thursday.

September 18, 2007
Background Checks A Must!
Do we need to conduct background checks before hiring? Selecting the wrong person can have terrible financial consequences, especially considering how expensive it is to train new employees and how litigious former workers can be concerning their terminations.

September 5, 2007
Firm Says Employee Background Checks More Important Than Ever
Mountain States Employers Council, Inc. (MSEC) announced on Wednesday that if anyone is catching the recent news, they will see that the importance of organizations conducting background checks on employees has grown.

September 1, 2007
Illinois Takes Action on Background Check Records After Virginia Tech
According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in a recent press release, Illinois is the next state to look into their current measure for background checks in behalf of the tragedy that occurred at Virginia Tech.

August 3, 2007
Bill aims for background checks for amusement workers
Legislation headed for the governor’s desk could give parents more peace of mind when their children head off to local carnivals or an amusement park.

July 25, 2007
Background checks in place for refs
The program, now in its second year, was disclosed Tuesday as commissioner John Swofford wrapped up the league's annual football preview meetings.

June 19, 2007
Background checks online make good business sense
Have you met a man who says he's a doctor out West? Wondering if your new business partner has a shady background? How about a job applicant who seems too good to be true?

June 15, 2007
Are You Flirting with a Felon?
Criminal background checks aren't just for Little League coaches and church volunteers any more.

May 7, 2007
Nannies … Sitters … And Your Children's Safety.
Springfield, MO —Drury University does not conduct criminal background checks on faculty before hiring, and some on campus wonder if that policy should be changed in light of recent events at Missouri State University

April 30, 2007
Sex offenders slipping through the cracks?
Springfield, MO —Drury University does not conduct criminal background checks on faculty before hiring, and some on campus wonder if that policy should be changed in light of recent events at Missouri State University.