What Does Aurico Know That The New York Times Doesn't

In a recent column of the Sunday New York Times¹, a professional wrote to ‘the Workologist’, asking, “I fear that I recently but unwittingly became a ‘stealthy bad reference.’” The former employee involved had worked for me on a contract basis. I got a call from a potential employer who began asking increasingly pointed and fairly specific questions. I didn’t want to undermine the person’s chances, but I also didn’t want to lie. What should I have done? 

The Workologist responded, “Helping people get jobs for which they are unqualified helps no one: It’s bad for the employer, makes you look unreliable and sets up the job seekers for failure. The fact that the potential employer was “hitting on exactly those areas” where you had misgivings suggests something a little more specific: Maybe this potential employer had related misgivings, or had heard similar doubts elsewhere. I think that you did the only thing you could: offer the best possible spin without lying.

From the Blooper Book

We pause for a moment to reflect on the inane, the odd, and the downright silly that we come across in candidates' job applications:

Don’t worry, we’re confused, too:

Have you been convicted of a crime in the past seven years, other than minor traffic violations? (Checked yes)

If yes, describe in full: “I’m confused here, I was charged for selling stolen property that i didn’t know was stolen.  I help to get the this back.”

“It told me to STOP.  I don’t like being told to stop.”

Have you been convicted of a crime in the past seven years, other than minor traffic violations? (Checked yes)

If yes, describe in full: “Theft of a street sign”

Rugby: Illegal in America since 1887!

Court Rules That Walgreens Employee Who Fired Concealed Handgun At Armed Robbers Has No Claim For Wrongful Discharge

Article by Laner Muchin, Chicago, Illinois

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that a former Walgreens employee who was discharged because he fired a concealed handgun at armed robbers has no claim for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy.  The employee held a valid license to carry a concealed firearm under Michigan law.  When armed robbers pointed a gun at the employee, he retrieved his firearm and shot at the robbers multiple times.  Walgreens subsequently discharged the employee for violating its policy against escalating a potentially violent situation.  The employee sued Walgreens alleging that his termination violated his rights to self-defense, defend others, and to carry a concealed weapon.  The court held that while the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Michigan Constitution limit some state interference with the right to engage in self-defense and bear arms, they do not prevent interference with these rights by private actors.  Additionally, Michigan’s concealed firearm law specifically authorized employers to prohibit employees from carry a concealed firearm in the course of their employment.  The court’s decision is welcome news for employers concerned about their ability to enforce policies that limit the possession and use of firearms at work consistent with state law.  

Medical Marijuana in New York

New York became the 23rd US state to legalize medical marijuana.  Importantly, the New York legislation is limited to non-smokable forms of marijuana. Further, the bill if passed is initially limited to persons with the following “severe debilitating or life-threatening conditions”: cancer, HIV or AIDS, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord damage, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathies, and Huntington’s disease. The New York Commissioner of Health is authorized to consider and add additional conditions to this list. The new law, if passed, also may be suspended or terminated by the governor at any time, and it is subject to a seven-year sunset provision.

Items of significance:

1. The legislation specifically states that being a “certified patient” with any covered condition automatically deems an employee to be “disabled” under the New York State Human Rights Law.
2. The bill expressly permits employers to enforce a policy prohibiting employees from performing their job duties while impaired by a controlled substance.
3. The bill does not require that employers violate federal law or do anything to cause the loss of a federal contract or funding.

Effective was immediate on July 5, 2014.

Oklahoma and Louisiana Become the Latest States to Enact Social Media Password Protection Laws

Weeks after Wisconsin and Tennessee enacted their own legislation aimed at restricting access by employers to applicants’ and employees’ personal online content, Oklahoma and Louisiana have followed suit, further complicating the patchwork of state password protection laws already in place.

Indiana Law in Effect July 1, 2014

Indiana has enacted an act that will amend Indiana Code concerning criminal laws and procedures.  This bill slightly changes what is a reportable criminal offense.  This statute (Public Law 168) allows for all convictions and non-conviction information to be reported as long as the arrest date is within 7 years which is required under the FCRA.

This law is subject to limited exceptions considered not reportable as follows:

• Expunged records;
• Restricted records;
• Record indicating a conviction of a Class D  felony or a Level 6 Felony if the Class D felony or a Level 6 Felony conviction has been entered as Class A misdemeanor or converted to a Class A misdemeanor conviction; and 
• Records that the provider(CRA) knows is inaccurate

Aurico follows state laws on reporting restrictions and effective July 1, 2014 will implement this regulation as required by Indiana statute (Public Law 168.)

Aurico Achieves Green Business Certification

Aurico is proud to announce that it has met the standards for "Green Business" Certification.  Aurico's commitment to developing and implementing polices for a safer and healthier world has enforced their leadership in creating innovative ways to introduce sustainability.

• Dedication to a paperless environment by building the award-winning WebACE™ Screening Platform. Cloud based architecture supports electronic file cabinet, e-signature, digital documentation, and web-based training.

• Located premises in Arlington Heights, IL across from the public transportation system, METRA in order to reduce employee and partner travel and subsequent greenhouse gas emissions.

• Created and launched numerous initiatives to reduce electricity including its office network design, use of webinars and other remote tools for training and communication purposes, and conversion of documents to electronic archive.

• Annual audit of indoor air quality to reduce emission footprint.

In collaboration with customers, partners, employees, and stakeholders, Aurico is a company that consciously chooses to make a positive impact on the environment and work to safeguard the health and welfare of future generations.