If you’ve been following the news lately, you’ve probably heard about states and municipalities passing bills requiring FBI or state fingerprint background … Read more
Angela Preston is senior vice president and counsel, corporate ethics and compliance for SterlingBackcheck.com. Angela has broad industry experience including more than 20 years as a licensed attorney and 12 years as a leader and expert in the background screening industry. She has extensive expertise in employment law, privacy law, EEO law, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Contact her at Angela.Preston@sterlingbackcheck.com.
What Happens When a Background Check Goes Terribly Wrong?
It’s a heartbreaking story. Every time a shooter like the alleged Charleston killer Dylann Roof becomes unhinged and takes innocent lives, we, as a nation, … Read more
5 Legal Lessons to Consider When Handling Millennial Background Checks
By the end of 2015, Millennials are expected to outnumber Baby Boomers in the workplace for the first time ever. As the largest generational group in the … Read more
State of Ohio Jumps in and “Bans the Box” For All Civil Service Jobs
While the state Legislature has not yet weighed in on the issue, the Buckeye State has taken one step closer to embracing “ban the box.” Effective June 1, … Read more
Court: LinkedIn Isn’t an Agency When It Comes to Background Screening
LinkedIn is off the hook. A California district court has dismissed a class action lawsuit filed against the business networking site (the full decision in … Read more
Class Action Claim For Running Background Check Gets Tossed in Court
Finally, a voice of reason. Employers got some good news from a judge in the Northern District of California last week, when the court granted Paramount … Read more
A Growing Question: Just How Effective is Big Data in Hiring?
Big data is transforming the information world at an alarming rate. It’s no surprise that the data being collected, sliced, sorted, and sold is being used … Read more
The Top Screening and Employment Issues We Faced in 2014
I almost can’t believe it myself, but it’s already December. And this point in the year means it’s almost time to close the books on 2014. As the year … Read more
The Big Problem With Background Checks at Uber
Uber can’t seem to get it right. First, the San Francisco-based ride-sharing service was criticized for NOT doing background checks, and now it’s under … Read more
LinkedIn Lawsuit Puts Background Screening Function in Question
Have you ever used LinkedIn to check up on someone? An employee or a prospective new hire? I know I for one am guilty of this. And while I’ve never … Read more
Yes, You Really Do Need to Screen Temporary Holiday Employees
Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, and that means Black Friday, shopping online, and holiday music overload as we get ready for the big gift-giving … Read more
New Washington D.C. Law Goes Well Beyond Ban the Box
With over a year of debate and some last-minute amendments, the District of Columbia’s Council recently passed a ban-the-box law that includes its own … Read more
Congress Critical of EEOC’s Policy Towards Background Checks
Congress is showing signs of life in the constant fight for employers to conduct reasonable background checks. Representative Tim Walberg, R, Mich., … Read more
San Francisco’s New Hiring Law: It’s “Ban the Box” on Steroids
Things aren’t getting any easier for employers in California. As I posted way back in February, San Francisco has banned the box. Effective next week, Aug. … Read more
Ban the Box Has Turned Into a Big Employer Problem
Ban the box has gone viral. And while the removal of this little check box has potentially made life easier for job seekers with a criminal past, it has … Read more
Indiana Restricts Criminal History Info That Might Be Sent to Employers
Effective July 1, Indiana has a new rule on what information “criminal history providers” can report in employment background checks. This latest version … Read more
Baltimore’s New Ban-the-Box Law Imposes Criminal Penalties
Baltimore is the latest major U.S. city to “ban the box.” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is expected to sign a controversial bill that prohibits both … Read more
How Legalized Marijuana Is Changing Workplace Drug Policies
Can you fire someone for testing positive for marijuana in the workplace? With pot dispensaries outnumbering Starbucks in cities like Denver, and websites … Read more
Nebraska Decides to ‘Ban the Box” – But Only For Public Employers
Last week, Gov. Dave Heineman signed off on a ban the box provision for the State of Nebraska. The “box” in question is the somewhat controversial … Read more
New York Attorney General Blasts Background Screening Process
Last week, a press release from the New York Attorney General’s office raised some eyebrows about background screening practices — not an uncommon headline … Read more