Message from the Editor:
Welcome to another edition of ‘Inside Background Screening’ our new newsletter. Our goal is to bring to you cutting edge news and information about what is happening in the background screening world to help keep you informed and to position you to make the best possible hiring decisions.
We hope you enjoy ‘Inside Background Screening’ and that you will share your interest and thoughts with us.
Lorenzo
Lorenzo Pugliano
| EMPLOYMENT SCREENING |
Asking Applicants About Salary History Now Banned in Massachusetts and Vermont, Connecticut to Follow
Massachusetts and Vermont now will prohibit employers from inquiring into or seeking prospective employees’ salary
history. Connecticut soon will follow, while Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island are considering similar
measures. In addition to the prohibition, the two states will not allow employers from requiring that an applicant’s
current or prior salary history meet certain criteria, and Vermont law also prohibits employers from determining whether
to interview an applicant based on the applicant’s current or past compensation. To comply, employers should review
and revise hiring documents, ensure that all applicants know that they are not required to disclose salary history, train
personnel involved in the hiring process on restrictions imposed by the new laws, and take a fresh look at current
compensation practices.
Hawaii Prohibits Employers from Asking Job Applicants About Salary
History
Hawaii Governor David Y. Ige recently signed Senate Bill 2351 into law, which will
prohibit prospective employees in the state from requesting or considering the
wage or salary history of job applicants as part of an employment application
process or compensation offer. The law will take effect Jan. 1, 2019.
| LEGAL ISSUES |
NJ Appellate Court: You Have the Right to Obtain Public Records Even If You Live Out of State
Under New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA), the term “citizens” applies to the general public and now, thanks to a decision of the New Jersey Appellate Division, individuals are not limited to the state. The ruling comes after an out-of-state citizen filed an OPRA lawsuit in Burlington County after the Atlantic County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund refused to provide requested records about legal bills. The judge in the case concluded that the right to request public records under OPRA is not limited to NJ citizens.
North Carolina Legislature Expands Opportunities for Employment of Persons With Criminal Records Shields Employers From Negligence Claims
House Bill (HB) 774 recently was signed by North Carolina Governor Ray Cooper and aims to broaden the situations in which individuals convicted of certain crimes may petition for a “certificate of relief.” The bill, which was unanimously passed, will help reduce the risks employers may face when hiring persons with criminal convictions. Under the new legislation, certificates are made available to individuals who have been convicted of “no more than three Class H or I felonies and any misdemeanors.” The law also insulates employers from liability from most employment-related negligence claims when hiring or retaining a person with a certificate of relief, but only if the employer “relied on” the certificate of relief in hiring or retaining the person.
Does the New California Privacy Law Apply to Your Business?
According to an analysis by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, almost half a million United States companies will be impacted by the passage of the California Consumer Privacy Act. The law, which applies to businesses, such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, associations or other legal entities that collect a consumer’s personal information, does not include natural persons. Those businesses that have taken steps to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will likely find that they already have processes and policies in place that permit them to comply. It is important for companies doing business in the state of California to explore the thresholds and definitions set forth by the law.
FCRA Class Action Dismissed by Missouri Court of Appeals for Lack of Standing
The plaintiff in a class action filed in Cole County Circuit Court against Kelly Services claimed that the company violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act when it included more information in its disclosure form than was allowed and by not providing him with either the report or a summary of his rights. Although it was dismissed in 2016 by the federal court under the U.S. Supreme Court’s Spokeo v. Robins decision, it was remanded back to state court, where a three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s ruling that the plaintiff lacked standing to pursue his claim since he could not prove concrete and actual injury.
| DRUG SCREENING |
Cannabis Opioid Crisis Disproportionately Affects Construction Industry: Three Policies to Minimize Associated Risks
Declared by the White House in October 2017 as a “public health crisis,” the opioid addiction epidemic has been found to disproportionately affect the construction industry more than any other sector. Employers in the construction industry should consider implementing drug screenings during the hiring process; “random” drug testing during employment; and written disciplinary policies and procedures for disciplining employees that test positive for any opioids or illegal drugs.
The Far-Reaching, Positive Impact of Workplace Drug Testing
Employment drug testing has been shown to not only promote a safer, more productive workplace, but to help decrease employee turnover and absenteeism, reduce employer risk and lower workers’ compensation incidence rates. It has been found that employees are more likely to undergo treatment when it is fostered by an employer and those in recovery go on to become better workers. According to “Drug Abuse Costs Employers $81 Billion Per Year,” drug abuse leads to lost productivity due to absenteeism, withdrawal, preoccupation with obtaining and using substances while at work, illegal activities at work, and psychological or stress-related effects. Those companies who choose to drug test their employees help protect their company from liability and potentially lower workers’ comp costs and premiums.
What Employers Should Know About Recreational Marijuana in Massachusetts
In July, Massachusetts became one of nine states to legalize recreational marijuana. The state, however, has no statutory protection for employees’ lawful off-duty conduct, such as smoking, so employers may terminate an employee for off-duty and/or off-site recreational marijuana use. Courts would be unlikely to protect employees who test positive for recreational marijuana use. It does, after all, remain illegal under federal law. To minimize the risk of a viable legal claim resulting from an employee’s termination, there are several things employers can do: 1. Enforce zero-tolerance policies; loosen drug-testing policies as recreational use becomes more prevalent; eliminate standardized testing policies; and update employee handbooks.
What Vermont’s Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Means for Employers
Vermont’s recreational marijuana law that went into effect in July has lifted penalties for individuals possessing limited amounts of marijuana. The new law doesn’t require employers to tolerate marijuana possession or use in the workplace. The Guide to Vermont’s Laws on Marijuana in the Workplace, released by the Vermont Office of the Attorney General, provides employers an overview of the changes regarding marijuana laws and summarizes existing employment laws relating to drug testing in the workplace. In it, readers can learn about the recreational marijuana law, medical marijuana law, the state’s Fair Employment Practices Act (VFEPA), and the restrictive drug testing law.
| IMMIGRATION & eVERIFY ISSUES |
Latest ICE I-9 Audits on the Rise: Act Today to Prevent Issues Tomorrow
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increased worksite enforcement actions by more than 50 percent, including 3,510 worksite investigations, 2,281 I-9 audits and 594 criminal and 610 administrative worksite-related arrests. ICE views its actions as fulfilling its obligations under the Administration’s “By American, Hire American” (BAHA) Executive Order. California has seen the most ICE/Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) action, with 122 Notices of Inspection (NOIs) issues in Los Angeles alone and another 77 served throughout Northern California. ICE has stated that it plans a summer swell, but employers can prepare by conducting internal assessments; reviewing and establishing policies and procedures; being proactive; training; and preparing for a government visit.
ICE Delivers More Than 5,200 I-9 Audit Notices to Businesses Across the US in 2-Phase Nationwide Operation
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) recently announced the results of a two-phase nationwide operation in which I-9 audit notices were served to more than 5,200 businesses around the country since the start of the year. During the first phase from late January to March 30, HSI served 2,540 Notice of Inspections (NOIs) and made 61 arrests, while in mid-July, HSI served 2,738 NOIs and made 32 arrests. The worksite enforcement strategy is aimed at criminal prosecution of employers who knowingly break the law, as well as the use of I-9 audits and civil fines to encourage compliance with the law. Failure to follow the law can result in criminal and civil penalties, such as in Fiscal Year 2017, when businesses were ordered to pay $97.6 million in judicial forfeitures, fines and restitution, and $7.8 million in civil fees.
| DATA PROTECTION & PRIVACY |
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Disclaimer: All information presented is for information purposes only and is not intended to provide professional or legal advice regarding actions to take in any situation. Nationwide Screening Services makes no representations for any products or services that are mentioned and accepts no responsibility for any actions or consequences taken without the guidance of a licensed attorney or professional consultant
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