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The rise of remote workers in response to the coronavirus pandemic has also renewed employer’s interests in drug testing. Namely – should you, and can you – drug screen your work from home (WFH) employees? And if so, what are the most reliable methods in this age of virtual work? These questions will likely steer […]
Topics like medical marijuana, Ban the Box, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are sure to grab a lot of headlines in 2020, but are they really the HR trends to which you need to pay attention? Not according to the data. We surveyed hundreds of HR professionals, recruiters, and generalists who use screening following the SHRM Annual Conference about what trends you’re watching in 2020. Here’s what’s on your radars.
Los Angeles is the latest major city to pass a Ban the Box measure (Ordinance 184652) applicable to private employers. It will become effective January 22, 2017 and will be enforced beginning in July 2017.
Ban the Box legislation has taken the nation by storm. In just a few years, laws to prohibit employers from asking questions about criminal history early in the application process have multiplied. There are now 24 states, more than 100 cities and even the federal government that have adopted some kind of Ban the Box statute. No one can say that these efforts are anything short of well-meaning. What could be better for society than to help those who have paid their debt get back on their feet and back into the workforce?
Most of us are familiar with “Ban the Box.” In its original form, ban the box laws and ordinances were created to remove the criminal history question, and its attendant Yes/No box, from employment applications. Although criminal history inquiry is permitted later in the selection process, the intent of ban the box is to ensure that applicants for employment are considered based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities rather than being automatically disqualified based on criminal history. Sometimes referred to as “Fair Chance Policies,” ban the box is designed to give applicants for employment exactly that – a fair chance for employment.
Chuck E. Cheese will pay nearly $2 million to settle the California based suit that alleges job applicants were not provided the required disclosures about background checks performed during the hiring process.
No Reporting Limits in Nevada Consumer reporting agencies are now allowed to report criminal convictions from the state of Nevada that are more than 7 years old. Governor Brian Sandoval signed Senate Bill 409 which basically removes any time limitations on reporting criminal records. The bill also allows gaming operators and employers to do more thorough background checks on job applicants by allowing CRAs to reports bankruptcy information that is more than 10 years old.
The level of legislative activity, regulatory guidance, and litigation surrounding background checks for employment screening has never been higher. And, as onerous litigation and multi-million dollar settlements become increasingly common, the stakes have never been higher for employers as they seek to balance external requirements with their legitimate business needs. Three recent actions follow, along with ripple effects.
Don’t ask about criminal history until the interview stage or until a conditional job offer has been extended. Ban the Box seems pretty straight forward, but unexpected slip-ups have already led to citations and fines in Minnesota. The state’s law went into effect on January 1st. Over the course of the year the Minnesota Department of Human Rights has investigated more than 50 complaints about applications violating the ban the box law.
Could asking a job applicant if they have ever been convicted of a crime actually reduce crime? Researchers at Florida International University say it can.
It seems like every single week we are announcing another state or jurisdiction adding or broadening their Ban the Box policies. They each have a slightly different name, and the details about which employers are included vary, but one by one, municipalities are being swept up in the ban the box bandwagon.
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