These are dire times.  The economy is sketchy, and employees can do foolish things in desperation.   Many people need money, and more often than not,  a fair portion of an employer's staff is probably in straits with overdue payments on everything from mortgages to the telephone bill.  So in some ways it should be no wonder that employment theft is on the rise.

Employment theft is on the rise and industrial espionage has actually increased significantly during the past few years.   In…

So what happens when your prime candidate lies to you?  I am not talking about some modest little fibs here  but some outright whoppers that when detected leave you twisting in the wind.   As a recruiter, this doesn't bode well for your relationships with different clients.   Most prefer to know the goods are genuine authentic, not some counterfeit designer

But in this difficult  economy with a highly competitive job market, some employment candidates might be selling you a bill of…

New Jersey may soon be implemented a bill similar to the Arizona legislation, the Legal Arizona's Workers Act,  first signed by former Governor, Jane Napolitano, in 2008.

Two New Jersey State Senators have introduced a similar bill barring employment of unauthorized workers and requiring all employers in the state to use the Federal government's E-Verify employment eligibility verification system.  Republican Senators Robert Singer and Steven Oroho have introduced…

This is one of those stories where it can be seen either as a sad commentary on urban America or a hopeful spot in the American job market.  The Newark, New Jersey City Government approved a new law requiring small restaurants in the city to have an armed guard on the premises, during the evening hours.  This comes in the wake of a drive-by shooting at a Newark restaurant where an off-duty police officer was killed.

According to the article on Reuters, any restaurant serving fifteen…

San Francisco is the latest city to present legislation that would prohibit employers from asking job applicants if they had any prior convictions.  If the legislation is passed, San Francisco will join about twenty one other cities in banning the box, as it is known.   Banning the box refers to the check box on job applications, asking if an applicant has had prior criminal conviction.

Among the twenty one cities, Cincinnati, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia,  and Austin, Texas,  are…

A good article from Elaine Varelas of  the Job Doc in the Boston Globe or Boston.com as it is known.  A job applicant wrote her asking, basically, if an open container misdemeanor from 2008 would nullify his employment candidacy.   Not  necessarily the crime of the century, but an open container is a serious enough offense as it implies possible intoxication that can lead to serious traffic…

Illinois has decided to make Workers Compensation benefits more difficult for those  who may be inebriated on the job.  The state has passed the "Presumptive Denial Law."  Which means if you test positive for drugs or alcohol  you are denied your workers compensation benefits.  The State's Governor is expected to sign this legislation, which would take effect September 1st.

According to the new statute,  it must be demonstrated that intoxication is indeed the "proximate cause" of the…

In response to the recent United States Supreme Court Ruling to uphold the 2007 Legal Arizona Workers Act, the Los Angeles Times has issued an editorial saying that you cannot rely on E-Verify or the I-9 Background Search.   The Arizona Law stipulates that employers who hire undocumented or illegal workers will be penalized for doing so and that the second offense may result in the revocation…

Last week I posted an article. The Process and Pitfalls of Education Verification, about the ins and outs of education verification.   I directed it toward recruiters and staffing groups as well as to human resources managers.  Among other things, I wrote about various instances where employment candidates try to fudge on their degrees.   I wrote about the different ways they may stretch the truth. 

Alright, sometimes they just downright lie about having a degree when that…

While employers have long conducted education verification checks on their employment candidates, it appears that increasingly more staffing and recruiting groups are being made responsible for conducting this and other background checks as part of the employment screening process.

Education history, of course, outside of criminal records, is one of the more significant searches.   For many positions,  education is not just a prerequisite but also vital to employment candidate's…

As a background checking service we see our fair share of physical and sexual violence that can be related to the home  or domestic environment.  But domestic violence is not necessarily contained within the home.   Domestic violence may originate in the home, but it can affect the workplace.

Studies claim that one in four women are victims of domestic violence.   Homicide  is the second leading cause of death among women in the workforce.  While women constitute the majority of…

There are notable issues where you latest recruit, the bright candidate with stellar skill sets and a clear background check appears the excellent candidate for middle management or the upper executive level.  This employment candidate is bright, articulate, and he has wonderful presentation skills.   He is charming and well connected, networked forever and an excellent prospect for your company.

But then, several months later, it is discovered that he is the the defendant in several…

When conducting county criminal background checks for employment screening purposes, be aware that you, the employer, are hnot suppose3d to consider sealed or expunged records.   This would seem simple t first, as sealed or expunged records should not be returned to you.  

But, like with many things, it is not always as clear cut as it first appears.Sometimes when conducting background checks for clients we will find that records show that a record has been sealed.  Or there is a…

There are certain news stories we one cannot help but muse on all the absurd potentialities.  One such story is one that came through a news letter to which I subscribe.   It  is an article in The Republic, in Columbus Indiana, where it reports that the Texas Legislature may allow employees to bring their guns to work with them.   That's right.  They can bring their guns, potentially, as long as they leave…

Apparently certain employers discriminate in their hiring practices.  According to a recent report in the National Employment Law Project, or NELP,  their survey of Cragi's Lit reveals that no hire policies are routine.   According to their Press Release, NELP posted the following--

"The new report highlights the widespread and illegal use of blanket no-hire policies by providing…