Background Investigation Blogs

With Christmas behind us and the New Year's Eve celebration almost upon us, police departments nationwide have reached the halfway point in their annual end of the year DUI campaigns that target “over the limit” holiday revelers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) recent study announced that from 2002 to 2006, nearly four fatalities out of ten involved alcohol-impaired crashes that took place during the Christmas and New Year's Eve holiday window. In 2006, The NHTSA stated that over 1.46 million drivers were arrested for DUI of either alcohol or narcotics resulting in an arrest rate of 1 for every 139 licensed drivers in America!

Employers should heed these eye-opening statistics when considering hiring new employees in the upcoming new year, especially if they will be driving a company vehicle. Employers should work with a professional background screening and drug testing firm such as Employment Background Investigations, Inc. (EBI) for consultation on how to establish a multi-leveled workplace drug and alcohol testing program including the use of instant testing solutions.  Employment screening protocols should also include a thorough check of motor vehicle records as well as criminal records to uncover any DUI's or other serious violations.

The USCIS recently updated the lists of valid documentation that can be used during the Form I-9 employee verification process. The USCIS deemed temporary Resident Cards and older versions of the Employment Authorization Card as unacceptable and removed all expired I-688 forms off of list A. Additions to list A include foreign passports marked with a temporary I-551 stamp and machine-readable visas with a temporary I-551 printed notation and passports from Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.  Approved documents for Form I-9 employee verification are categorized into 3 lists: List A) Verifies identity and employment authorization; List B) Verifies identity only and List C) verifies employment authorization only. To be in complete compliance with all current and new E-Verify and I-9 legislation, employers should consult a professional background screening firm. Employment Background Investigations, Inc. (EBI) is a federally authorized designated