Most people lie on their resume. The typical resume untruths are embellishments or exaggerations so the candidate sounds more impressive or more experienced than they are. Earlier this year, CareerBuilder reported that 45% of hiring managers can't find qualified talent so fluffing up credentials is happening more than ever. These resume white lies may not necessarily reveal a bad hire if the candidate is bright, hardworking and willing to learn. Some applicants, however, may be hiding who they really are and it's up to the discerning hiring manager to uncover the scary truth underneath .

Here's what you may find behind the masks some applicants wear.

Nearly three quarters of employers run background screens on employment applicants. While it is assumed that employers are looking for criminal records, a Reddit thread about background checks uncovered plenty of other valuable and available information to determine if the applicant is a good fit. Those who fit well, perform better and stick around longer, reducing turnover costs and the risk of low morale.

Employers may be closely reviewing background check information to help improve or maintain a positive workplace culture.

More companies are choosing to screen their employees, both prior to hire and after they are employed. With the “Me Too” movement and the most recent accusations against Judge Kavanaugh, rolling background checks are now considered a good idea for employers wishing to make their workplace safe from sexual harassment.

If your company or HR department has considered rolling background checks, here are some best practices for updating your employment policies to include it.

It's very important that we continue our mission to educate and inform our clients and readers about new regulations that may affect FCRA compliance.  We regularly share information on this blog about screening for hiring or placing tenants while explaining the importance of applicant rights. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) specifies how to collect consumer reports, who has access and for what purpose, and that applicants should be aware of the information in their consumer reports. 

Effective this week, September 21, 2018, companies using background checks must implement new regulations pertaining to Consumer Rights and FCRA compliance.

Decision matrices are used by executives for all manner of business decisions that include many variables and multiple choices. When consistency is required and emotion must be removed, such as with hiring, a decision matrix can be a valuable tool. Federal legislation also recommends consistency and objectivity. The EEOC and other anti-discrimination laws rely on employers to reduce bias so that all applicants get a fair chance. 

A decision making matrix during the hiring process can be the perfect tool for leaders. Here are a few examples.

To remain FCRA compliant, consider the following timing for sending adverse action notices.

Unfortunately, both small-to-medium and enterprise businesses are prone to fraud and the 2018 Global Study on Occupational Fraud and Abuse dives deeper into the reasons why. The study looked at over 2,000 cases of occupational fraud reported over the previous two years, in 125 countries and in 23 industries. The most common fraud scheme was corruption among the executives and employees within an organization. Surprisingly, a few simple practices could minimize the risk of fraudulent activities.

Here are best practices for businesses of all sizes to reduce occupational fraud.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has been quite busy this year including last week's lawsuits against seven employers for allegations of workplace harassment. This week, more lawsuits have been filed, including one against Grand Hyatt for disability discrimination and one against a Georgia restaurant for pregnancy discrimination. Employers are wise to examine these cases closely to ensure compliance with EEOC regulations. 

Let's take a closer look at some of the EEOC lawsuits and how employers should comply.

Employers run background checks on employees to keep both their business and their customers' interest safe. A basic background check is used to verify a potential employee's identity and determine if there was any past criminal activity. Credit checks aren't necessarily included in a basic screening but would be used if the job description requires it and could affect employment chances. Federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on gender, race, and religion, however as of this writing, only 11 states have limits against discrimination based on credit.

Can an employer look at an applicant's credit report? The answer is, "It depends."

Employers and job seekers alike struggle with the time it takes to receive background check results. The waiting is the hardest part... 

Most frustrating is that some background checks seem to take less time than others, leaving hiring managers scratching their heads wondering why. In general, the results of a background check could take 2 or 3 business days but there are many factors that could affect that number. 

Why do some background checks take longer than others?