NAPBS Offers Tips for Screening Job Candidates in 2013

Accuracy in employee background screening is critical in today’s business environment

 

Washington, D.C. (November 28, 2012) – As employers begin to plan business strategies for the upcoming year, there is no question that personnel needs will be high on their to-do lists. To help business owners and human resource managers make sound hiring decisions, more and more are turning to pre-employment background screening to ensure they find the right people for the right positions.

 

Each year, business owners, corporate human resources departments, government agencies and nonprofits successfully partner with professional background screening companies to conduct millions of pre-employment and volunteer background checks. Not only do background checks help employers find the most qualified workers, but they also play an important role in helping employers meet their legal responsibilities and provide a safe environment for existing employees and the customers they serve. 

Federal Trade Commission

The Senate unanimously confirmed President Obama's nomination of Dr. Joshua Wright to serve as a Commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Wright is currently a professor at the George Mason University School of Law, who previously served as the scholar in residence at the FTC's Bureau of Competition. Wright's term extends through September 25, 2019. Wright will replace J. Thomas Rosch, a Republican whose term expired late last year.

Read more here.

Federal Trade Commission revises required forms to be used by January 1, 2013

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has revised the “FCRA Summary of Rights” document to incorporate amongst other things the new agency—Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that now has oversight over the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Before January 1, 2013, employers should use the new FCRA notice for their background check programs. The FCRA Summary of Rights form must be included: (1) as an enclosure with the first of the two “adverse action” notices—the “pre-adverse action” notice; and (2) with the disclosures for “investigative consumer reports” (i.e., consumer reports based on personal interviews conducted by a consumer reporting agency (CRA), such as in-depth reference checks).

In addition to the revised Summary of Rights document, the FTC has also changed the Notice to End-Users to incorporate similar changes reflected in the summary of rights notice.

Aurico will incorporate the new Summary of Rights form on behalf of our clients using our On-line Disclosure and Authorization (Send-Release) option.

You can find these forms on our website under the “Forms” tab when logged into the WebACE ™ dashboard. If you have any questions regarding these new forms, or would like to get set up for our On-Line Send-Release option, please contact Aurico and we will be happy to assist you

DOT Reiterates that Marijuana Use by Safety-Sensitive Transportation Employees is Not Authorized, Regardless of Recent Passage of State Recreational Marijuana Use Laws

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy Compliance has issued a Notice to address the recent passage of state initiatives purporting to legalize marijuana use for recreational purposes.

The DOT requires testing of applicants and employees in safety-sensitive transportation positions for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines and phencyclidine. Applicants must be drug tested before they begin performing DOT-covered safety-sensitive duties and employees must be drug tested in certain circumstances, including following an accident, randomly and when reasonable suspicion of drug use exists.

During that review process, the test subject is permitted to provide the medical review officer (MRO) with information that would explain the positive test result, such as a prescription. If the test subject provides a legitimate medical explanation for the confirmed positive test result, then the MRO will report the test result to the (prospective) employer as verified negative. If the test subject does not provide a legitimate medical explanation, he or she must be removed from safety-sensitive duties and referred to a substance abuse professional for evaluation.

Applicants for and employees in safety-sensitive transportation positions will not be allowed to explain away a confirmed positive test for marijuana based on recreational or medical use purportedly authorized by state law.

Read more

I-9 Audits Increasing at Rapid Pace

From the Associated Press:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reached its highest number yet of companies audited for illegal immigrants on their payrolls this past fiscal year.

Audits of employer I-9 forms increased from 250 in fiscal year 2007 to more than 3,000 in 2012. From fiscal years 2009 to 2012, the total amount of fines grew to nearly $13 million from $1 million. The number of company managers arrested has increased to 238, according to data provided by ICE.

Game Changers Radio Show Features Ben Goldberg

The President of Aurico was recently featured as a guest on the Play Makers Spotlight at a local radio station.  Ben spoke on the history of Aurico, how technology impacts our clients, and what it means to take the Aurico Challenge.  You can listen to the podcast here.  The 10-minute interview begins around the 13:00 marker.

The Game Changers Radio Show airs every Saturday at 7:00PM CST on AM 560.

Newest Member of CEO IntroNet

Our CEO, Joel Goldberg, is one of the newest members of CEO IntroNet.  Hear what Joel has to say about Aurico here.