The U.S. Supreme Court has announced that it will review a very significant case that impacts employers. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) case involves Plaintiff Thomas Robins who alleged that Defendant Spokeo Inc. (Consumer Reporting Agency) issues consumer reports that violate the FCRA. The case questions whether or not someone can sue under a statute, [and possibly bring a class action] simply based on a technical violation. The case disregards whether or not that individual actually suffered an injury.

Earlier this year we posted the top employment screening trends to watch for in 2015. One trend was the ‘Ban-the-Box’ movement. This law prohibits employers from putting a “box” on employment applications asking candidates if they have ever been convicted of a crime. ‘Ban-the-box’ protects ex-offenders, and doesn’t exclude them from moving through the hiring process because of a criminal record. Currently, most ‘ban-the-box’ laws apply to public employers or government contractors in a few cities and counties. Due to some recent events, the prospect of a Federal ‘ban-the-Box’ order has gained some traction.

On a daily basis, U.S. employers request millions of reports to assist with crucial business decisions involving background screening. These reports are currently regulated at both the federal and state level. NAPBS (National Association of Professional Background Screeners) exists to uphold high ethical standards and practices, compliances with the FCRA, equal employment opportunity, and consumer protection laws relating to the background screening industry. Have you asked yourself if your background screening company is NAPBS accredited?

The beginning of the year always calls for the “top trends” lists. From fashion to investments, there are developments to watch for. What about your employees? How much do you know before you hire?

It’s a great time of year. It’s a time where most are rushing in and out of retail stores, hustling and bustling to buy their loved ones the latest products. The holiday season is a peak time for retailers and requires hiring extra help.

Although the word background check is common in the HR vocabulary, are you doing the right things to keep your company out of trouble? When making an important decision to hire a candidate, an application is not enough. Some candidates give inaccurate information or even false information.