Active Screening Blog Posts
Setting the Record Straight on Background Checks
Background checks have been getting a bad rap lately. First, an erroneous article misconstrues the effect Ban The Box is having on background checks and the screening industry in general. Second, two of the nation’s largest screening providers get busted by a federal...
Marijuana and Background Checks: What You Need to Know in 2016
Marijuana advocates have celebrated a couple of banner years in their movement to legalize the substance, or at least allow its use for medicinal purposes. Four states and Washington, D.C. have already passed legislation permitting recreational pot use; another 10...
Uber’s New Year Resolutions – Add Millions of Drivers and Better Background Checks
A record-breaking number of Americans this year drove somewhere at least 50 miles away for Christmas. The main reason? Gas prices are good. New Year’s traffic won’t be nearly as enormous. Still, prognosticators predict vehicle traffic will continue to stay strong if...
Volunteering on Your Child’s Field Trip May Require a Background Check
Trips to local museums, farms, colleges, and area businesses are a rite of passage for students. These field trips are a welcome break from their daily school routine and give kids a chance to do some real world learning. Field trips are often a way to increase parent...
Should There Be A Background Check on Every Local Santa For Hire?
Chances are you’ve already taken your kiddos for their annual Christmas picture with the local Santa for hire at your nearest mall. And chances are, it went relatively smoothly, save for a queue, maybe some tears, and an unattainable gift wish proclaimed to...
Big Win For Consumer Reporting Agencies in Federal Court
A recent court case ruling highlights a huge win for Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) and their clients. At the heart of the case was an examination of pre-adverse action and adverse action procedures. Here’s what the woman stated in her lawsuit: She claimed an...
Winter Break is Coming – Have You Screened Your Interns Yet?
Regardless of what statistics show about the American job market, competition is still tough in top industries like finance, law and other white-collar positions. That’s why internships have become a necessity for college students. These entry-level positions not only...
Colleges Considering Background Checks Get Backlash from Employees
Another argument is brewing on some college campuses that is driving a wedge between faculty and administrators. At least two major universities are implementing background checks for new hires. The California State University policy requires criminal records checks,...
Tenant Background Checks Are on The Rise – What You Need to Know
The housing rental industry is booming. “From 31 percent in 2004, the renter share of all US households climbed to 35 percent in 2012, bringing the total number to 43 million by early 2013,” reports this study from Harvard University. As the rental industry continues...
Turnover Hurts. Background Checks Can Ease Your Pain.
Your business is only as solid as your employees. Without a roster of qualified, hard-working, dependable, trustworthy and positive people, your business is at constant risk of crumbling. This is especially true for American businesses who are under increasing...
Why Small Towns are Ditching Recommendations for Background Checks
If you’re from SomeSmallTown, America, chances are you know someone who got a job because they knew someone who vouched that person. This happens regularly in small towns, but is by no means exclusive to these quaint hamlets. Word of mouth recommendations are often...
Facts and Fears About Reference Checks
Let’s assume you’re a qualified candidate for a new job listing. When you apply, you can expect these three things: An application An interview for qualified candidates Reference checks Obviously, as a background screening company, we’d love to see 100% engagement...
Update: Tennessee Moves to Require Background Checks for Game Officials
Weeks after the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) dismissed a high school referee for not disclosing criminal information on his application, the Association moved to require background checks for all officials before they can call a game. The...
National Background Check Program for Long-Term Care Employees Under Review
Background checks are widely considered the most effective tool at flagging predators who may abuse, neglect and/or exploit our most vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and people with disabilities. The newest state to take measures to protect our...
The Truth Behind President Obama’s Executive Order Against Criminal Background Checks
We told you this was coming. Not too long ago, we ran two posts about the Ban The Box movement gaining momentum at the Federal level. Click on the headlines if you want a refresher: Is Ban the Box Gaining Federal Traction? Update: Are Credit Checks Discriminatory?...
Lawsuit Takes Big Bite out of Waffle House Hiring Procedures
Disclosures! Disclosures! Disclosures! Like several other restaurants before them, Waffle House is dealing with a lawsuit alleging unfair background check procedures. This time the lawsuit against the 24-hour diner stems from improper communication about, and...
Is a Fingerprint Check Enough to Ensure a Quality In-Home Caregiver?
A new wave of people needing in-home healthcare services is rapidly approaching. Tens of millions of retirees are already accessing later-in-life healthcare services, and that is projected to grow exponentially in coming decades. The Census Bureau reports that only...
Update – Judge Dismisses FCRA Class Action Lawsuit
A lawsuit that claimed messy background check paperwork distributed by Kohl’s Department Stores Inc. violated Federal law, has been tossed out by a California judge. The ruling comes fairly swiftly on the heels of the initial court appearance, which we wrote about...
Seasonal Hiring is Here: Follow These Five Tips for a Fabulous Season
If you haven’t started drafting your holiday hiring gameplan yet, don’t fret. We’re here to help. We’ve combed the best advice that the internet has to offer, and combined it with our super awesome insider screening knowledge. The result? Five surefire ways to ensure...
Tough Time for Amazon – Two Lawsuits Filed for Alleged FCRA Violations
Amazon may want to double-check its job fair hiring procedures after two people have come forward claiming they were unfairly eliminated as applicants after erroneous background checks. And they better do it quickly if they want to hire this many people for the...