When it comes to using criminal history in employment decisions, how far back should background checks go? In the case of a former Milwaukee Wells Fargo employee, the company went as far back as 40 years, and held two charges from 1972 against her. While criminal history should not be used as a blanket hiring [...]

If you haven’t heard the news already, Yahoo! Inc. CEO Scott Thompson stepped down after not correcting errors in his credentials. His college degree is the facet of his background being called into question, as even a simple internet search reveals discrepancy with his educational history. Thompson claims he has a bachelor’s degree in computer [...]

In several instances on this blog, we’ve talked about background checks being used incorrectly or improperly. Criminal charges dug up from these assessments have been – illegally – used as blanket hiring measures, while the ramifications of identity theft, which cannot be purged immediately, essentially bar individuals, out of no fault of their own, from [...]

Do you know your child’s bus driver, and just how well? Many parents take for granted that the bus driver pulling up to the curb every day does not have a criminal record. But, as schools have implemented background check policies for not only teachers but volunteers and visiting parents over the past few years, [...]

When well-caged and monitored, exotic animals make interesting, exciting pets. Yet, when the animals are allowed to roam like your average house pet, they end up posing a hazard. Because of this, an Ohio lawmaker is proposing higher standards for owners of exotic animals. Why Ohio and why now? According to the Washington Post, a [...]

For many, a background or credit check is often the first instance identity theft becomes evident. As you wonder why your credit score dropped when you’ve had no debt and paid all bills on time, additional accounts in your name – sometimes, even mortgages – surface. While, at this point, contacting the credit bureaus and [...]

Coming to the national media spotlight in early 2012, two teachers at Los Angeles school Miramonte Elementary were accused of lewd acts involving children. While the full staff has since been screened and replaced, parents are wondering about background checks; mainly, how did these accused former teachers slip under the radar? It’s not an easy [...]

Can a parent trust a preschool, even a registered one, has no criminals or sex offenders amongst its staff? Yesterday, Fox Chicago News revealed an eco-friendly preschool in the West Loop area was unwittingly harboring a sex offender. Investigating a tip, the local news station found Eric Ellis, who is listed as a Registered Sex [...]

Like many adults, you join a dating website to meet others in your area, and then an individual contacts you. To feel each other out, you chat a bit online and then decide to meet up in a public place. Although, with online dating now far more common than it used to be, this scenario [...]

Is your company looking for an easy way out when it comes to background checks in hiring decisions? The time and care taken to analyze results and consider each applicant, rather than using criminal history as a be-all-end-all factor, ends up having long-term positive consequences. What can happen from careless application of criminal background checks? [...]