Background Checks

Is your PEO ripping you off? A primer on the fine print

04/24/2008

Say you’ve decided to hire a professional employer organization (PEO) to handle some of your HR services—or you’re considering new PEO vendors to replace your current one. You have a choice of more than 700 PEOs to choose from. Prices and services offered by PEOs vary so much it’s hard to spot the best deal …

Lack of screening did not prove negligence in truck accident

04/22/2008

In September 2004, Martin King and Tobias Ledzema were both driving tractor-trailers in Lake County when Ledzema’s trailer struck King’s. King sued Ledzema’s employer, Fierro Trucking, based in Illinois, alleging negligent hiring and supervision …

Employer may be liable when employee attacks

04/18/2008

Sometimes an employee gets into an argument with a customer, and what began as a war of words turns into actual violence. When that happens, the employer may be on the hook for damages. Under the right conditions—or more precisely, the wrong ones—the employer may be liable for physical altercations its employee may engage in while working …

Inadequate screenings at DCF

04/14/2008

Following the arrest of Department of Children & Families (DCF) spokesman Al Zimmerman on child pornography charges, the DCF inspector general launched a review of the department’s hiring procedures. A report on the results revealed serious security gaps …

Make common sense the driving force of your business

04/10/2008

Login Email Address Password I forgot my password To continue reading this page, become an HR Specialist Premium Plus member today! Your subscription includes: Ask the Attorney: Answers to your HR legal questions Compliance Guidance: Access to 7,000 HR news articles, updated daily, sorted by state State-by-State: Summaries of HR laws in all 50 states […]

Are background checks required in Illinois?

04/09/2008

Q. I have heard that Illinois law requires background checks for employees. Is this true? …

Background-Checking firms: How to Sort out the Best from the Rest

04/07/2008

Nearly 1,000 vendors are in the screening industry now, making it difficult to sort out the top tier from the fly-by-night firms. Good news: Starting this month, you’ll have a new yardstick on which to gauge their quality …

DCF spokesman faces child abuse charges

04/01/2008

Al Zimmerman had a solid employment record when the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) hired him as a spokesman. He was later promoted to press secretary and received good reviews, right up until his arrest for allegedly paying two teenagers to perform sexual acts while he photographed them …

Insist on thorough documentation of background check results

04/01/2008

Take care if you run background checks as part of your job application process. Be sure to document how you handle reference check calls, and document requests. You may need the files later, especially if you don’t hire the applicant in the end and he claims discrimination …

Non-Minorities can’t sue on basis of minority discrimination

03/01/2008

Good—and somewhat obvious—news: Job applicants who are not members of a protected class can’t sue for discrimination on the basis that an employer’s hiring practices discriminate against minorities …