Ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft have been questioned by, and in some cases forced out of, cities around the world for their policy, or lack thereof, on background checks. In April of this year, Uber announced it would perform ongoing criminal background checks on drivers as well as monitor driver records for criminal arrests. With so much focus on ride-sharing companies, taxi and bus driving companies have also come under fire. 

For transportation companies, it begs the question: Have your drivers had background checks?

As a non-profit, volunteers are often the face of your organization. Volunteering may appear to be selfless dedication of time, but the individuals must also be trustworthy and honest. Instead of opting out of background checks for volunteers due to time restraints or cost, consider the value of working with someone who is a truly helpful  and powerful representative and who has been vetted thoroughly. 

Don't skip background checks. Save money with a volunteer background check policy.

Since the beginning of the VeriFirst blog, the goal has been to provide an educational resource and assistance to employers and property managers. Compliance is important to those who read here, as well as an awareness of the latest employment and housing laws across the nation. VeriFirst's FCRA certified staff works closely with our clients to help with hiring the right employee or placing the perfect tenant.

Bookmark this blog post as a go-to compliance guide with background check forms and templates for employment screening and tenant screening.

As a property owner or landlord, your goal is to find a tenant who will not only pay on time but also care for your property. VeriFirst's goal, as a background check company, is to help you find the right tenant and also encourage compliance with federal regulations such as FCRA and Fair Housing laws. To stay compliant, this means honoring consumer rights but you also need to protect your business. 

When is the last time you took the time to review your tenant screening criteria?

In today's world, it's no longer safe to simply rely on a potential employee's resume as a reliable source of information. While the resume is a great source of information about the previous work history, conducting a criminal background check for employment has become an essential and vital part of hiring new employees.

Employers run criminal background checks to provide a safe workplace for their staff and customers and meet certain compliance requirements in their industry. Job seekers, especially those with any run-ins with the law, are curious what employers will see on criminal background checks.

The answer is, "It depends". 

With many types of background searches, and different laws in certain jurisdictions, information on criminal background checks could vary. The employer would need to know the information required to meet the hiring requirements of their organization, the restrictions of their jurisdiction, and how best to obtain that information. 

In general, here's what information shows up on criminal background checks.

As more job applicants are failing pre-employment drug tests than ever before, employers must raise awareness of or reexamine their drug testing and substance abuse policies. A lower unemployment rate is good for the country but it also means that employers have a smaller pool of candidates. Limited job seekers and drug test failures could challenge the hiring policies of employers. Nevertheless, employers still have the right to screen candidates for drug usage, especially with the legalization of marijuana and an opioid addiction crisis. 

Here are some statistics on failed drug tests and how employers can keep a drug-free workplace.

Background checks reveal information about a person's character, reputation, and experience. Depending on the types of screens, these exploratory investigations vary on the information they'll uncover.  Employers may use background checks to disclose personal finance information, civil records, education, licensing, criminal records, and previous employment history.

As more employers rely on background checks to screen job candidates, the history of employment background screening reveals why.

*Note: This post has been updated from its original post date of November 10, 2016.

As of January 2018,  8 states and Washington D.C. have passed broad legislation for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use and 29 states for medical use. States that now allow adult citizens to smoke weed include Colorado, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada. Other states have passed laws allowing marijuana for medical use. This list may not be comprehensive and could be outdated as more legislation is passed. We will continue to update when possible.

These results may have employers concerned about background screening and marijuana use on the job. Here are some things to consider.

Employers depend on accurate criminal history records when making a hiring decision based on background screening. A criminal background check is used to ensure a safer workplace and reduce the risk of negligent hiring claims. When making a hiring decision based on a background check report, however, the employer must show that there is areason that the criminal record affects the hiring decision. The employer's policy must be reasonably related to the job requirements.  

So when should employers consider criminal history records? Here's what you need to know...