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
CEO
Lpugliano@nsshire.com
EMPLOYMENT SCREENING
Salary History Bans Shrink Gender- and Race-Based Pay Gaps, Researchers Find
By April 2025, nearly half of U.S. states and over 20 localities had enacted pay history inquiry bans. BU Law research shows these bans can boost wages for women and African American workers, especially when changing jobs, though effects vary across studies. While bans may limit employer information for compensation decisions, they redistribute value to marginalized workers. National regulation could emerge via voluntary employer practices or federal legislation, though scope and strength remain uncertain.
Washington Employers: Prepare for Hiring Practice Shifts as New Background Check Requirements Take Effect in 2026+2027
Washington State’s 2025 Fair Chance Act expansion limits when and how employers can consider criminal history, applying post-offer only. Employers must conduct individualized assessments before denying employment, notifying candidates and allowing them to provide information on rehabilitation, work experience, or education. Exemptions include certain federal contractors, child- or vulnerable-adult-facing roles, and regulated industries. Effective July 2026 for medium/large employers and January 2027 for small ones, enforcement falls to the attorney general, who can impose penalties and seek damages.
Popular PA Haunted Attraction Allowed Man Convicted of Exposing Himself to Children to Volunteer Alongside Minors
Field of Screams in Pennsylvania allowed Christopher Rohrbaugh, a man convicted in 2011 of indecent exposure and corruption of minors, to volunteer alongside teens from 2022 to 2024. The attraction’s background check missed his record due to the age of the conviction. Legal experts dispute whether the state’s Child Protective Services Law applies to for-profit businesses like Field of Screams, highlighting gaps and confusion in laws meant to protect minors in volunteer settings.
The State of Employment Law: Illinois Provides the Strongest Criminal Conviction Protections in the Country
Illinois provides the strongest employment protections for individuals with criminal convictions. Under the Illinois Human Rights Act, refusing to hire or disciplining someone based on a conviction is a civil rights violation unless the conviction is substantially related to the job or poses an unreasonable safety risk. Employers must follow a detailed process, considering factors like time since conviction, severity, and rehabilitation, and provide pre- and post-adverse action notices, while allowing appeal and discrimination complaint rights.
Illinois ‘Clean Slate’ Act Passes After Failing to Clear Illinois Legislature in the Past
Illinois’ ‘Clean Slate’ Act would automatically seal eligible criminal records every six months, excluding serious violent crimes, DUIs, and sexual offenses against minors. Public and private entities could no longer access sealed records, though law enforcement could. The law aims to expand employment, housing, and voting opportunities, potentially adding $4.7 billion to the state economy. If signed by Gov. Pritzker, implementation begins Jan. 1, 2031, with a five-year task force monitoring progress.
HiringBranch Launches a Conversational Skills Screener to Replace Resume Scanning
HiringBranch launched its Job Skills Screener to help enterprise recruiters assess candidates’ soft skills early in the hiring process. The short-form, validated assessment evaluates 50+ communication and soft skills, using voice-based AI and job simulations to measure both what candidates say and how they say it. Designed for customer-facing roles, it aims to improve top-of-funnel hiring quality, reduce attrition, and provide performance insights before interviews, addressing challenges from AI-generated resumes.
Federal Agencies Banned from Asking About Criminal Records Before Employment Offers
The Office of Personnel Management finalized regulations under the Fair Chance Act to prevent federal applicants from being automatically disqualified due to criminal history. Agencies and contractors cannot ask about criminal records until after a conditional job offer, with exceptions for law enforcement and national security roles. The rules aim to promote fairness, workforce diversity, and second-chance opportunities. A complaint process with penalties for violations is established, effective October 2, 2023.
‘Ban the Box’ Expands in Philadelphia: Latest Updates for Employers
Philadelphia’s updated Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards, effective Jan. 6, 2026, further restrict how employers may use criminal records. Misdemeanor lookback limits drop to four years, and summary offenses and sealed or expunged records cannot be considered. Employers must give notice, disclose relied-upon records, allow 10 business days for rebuttal, and conduct individualized assessments. Strong antiretaliation protections create a presumption of retaliation for adverse actions within 90 days of someone asserting their rights.
Background Check Software Buyer’s Guide
A strong background check strategy starts with clarifying hiring goals, then selecting software that fits your organization’s size, compliance needs, and global reach. Key features include built-in compliance, solid integrations, automation, data security, and transparent AI. Companies should prioritize candidate experience, scalability, and defensibility during audits. A thoughtful vendor evaluation—focused on reliability, fairness, and real automation—helps teams hire faster, reduce risk, and create a consistent, trustworthy screening process.
OCCUPATIONAL FRAUD
Paramedic Fired After Allegedly Claiming He Was a Doctor
Samrat Mukherjee, a paramedic with Acadian Ambulance since 2015, allegedly posed as a physician for four years, forging medical degrees, a residency match letter, and using another doctor’s prescription credentials. He acted as a “flight physician,” gave medical instructions, and appeared on hospital floors as a doctor, though he never graduated college or held a medical license. Mukherjee was fired in December 2022, voluntarily surrendered his paramedic license, and is under investigation by local authorities.
New Mexico Health Care Authority Investigates Fake Nurse at Las Cruces Facility
New Mexico authorities are investigating Las Cruces Wellness & Rehabilitation after learning that Margarita Gonzalez allegedly impersonated a nurse there using stolen Texas license numbers. Texas facilities uncovered discrepancies in her identity, prompting referrals to prosecutors. Gonzalez provided patient care in Las Cruces and could face charges, fines, or jail time. Experts note that both she and the facility may face liability if patients were harmed, underscoring employers’ responsibility to thoroughly vet staff.
Hiring Fraud Will Only Get Worse. Organizations Can Fire Back with AI Agents
Hiring fraud is becoming more sophisticated as candidates use AI tools to fake identities, rehearse perfect answers, or even appear as digital avatars. Employers are turning to AI agents that detect scripted responses, flag suspicious behavior in real time, and verify that the same person appears across interviews. Experts urge companies to adopt end-to-end verification, balance scrutiny with a positive candidate experience, and prepare for increasingly advanced fraud as fake profiles, portfolios, and personas become easier to generate.
Florida Man Arrested After Allegedly Posing as a Nurse During Job Interview
A 55-year-old Florida man, Joseph Thomas Kinney, was arrested after allegedly applying for nursing jobs using his roommate’s credentials. Detectives staged a fake job interview to catch him after a facility reported suspicious documents. Investigators say he sought up to 15 jobs and briefly worked at two facilities despite past license revocations in multiple states for drug diversion, DUI, false information, and misconduct. He faces two counts of practicing health care without a license.
CT Board Revokes License of Another ‘Nightingale’ Nurse Who Obtained Fraudulent Degree
Connecticut revoked another nursing license linked to “Operation Nightingale,” bringing the state’s total to nearly 80 individuals found to have used fraudulent Florida nursing degrees to gain licensure. Sheryl Charlton of Trumbull did not contest allegations or appear at hearings, leading to her revocation. The federal investigation uncovered more than 7,500 people tied to fake diplomas that enabled NCLEX access. Connecticut continues suspending and reviewing licenses to determine who knowingly used invalid credentials.
Florida Man Arrested After Allegedly Posing as a Nurse During Job Interview
A 55-year-old Florida man, Joseph Thomas Kinney, was arrested after allegedly applying for nursing jobs using his roommate’s credentials. Detectives staged a fake job interview to catch him after a facility reported suspicious documents. Investigators say he sought up to 15 jobs and briefly worked at two facilities despite past license revocations in multiple states for drug diversion, DUI, false information, and misconduct. He faces 2 counts of practicing without a license.
CT Board Revokes License of Another Fraudulent Degree Nurse
Connecticut revoked another nursing license linked to “Operation Nightingale,” bringing the state’s total to nearly 80 individuals found to have used fraudulent Florida nursing degrees to gain licensure. Sheryl Charlton of Trumbull did not contest allegations or appear at hearings, leading to her revocation. The federal investigation uncovered more than 7,500 people tied to fake diplomas that enabled NCLEX access.
Agency Hired Fake Nursing Aides and Defrauded Nursing Homes — Now Facing 13 Indictments
A Worcester County Grand Jury issued 13 indictments against Blooming Staffing Agency, its owner Catherine Kibe, and former employee Osaretin “Jerry” Osazee for allegedly placing uncertified aides in nursing homes and fraudulently billing facilities for CNA-level care. Prosecutors say Kibe directed unqualified workers to pose as CNAs, collected over $300,000 for services not performed by certified staff, and had Osazee work without a CNA certificate. The scheme violated state staffing regulations and endangered residents.
LEGAL ISSUES
Major US Event Staffing Company to Reform Hiring Practices Under Settlement Deal
Contemporary Services Corporation agreed to reform its hiring practices and pay undisclosed damages after rejecting a California job applicant due to a prior conviction, violating the California Fair Chance Act. The company will stop asking applicants to self-disclose convictions, conduct individualized assessments, train hiring staff, and report outcomes to the Civil Rights Department. Advocates say the settlement promotes fair employment for people with criminal records, expanding opportunities and reinforcing the law that bars automatic disqualification based on past convictions.
Fair Credit Reporting Act in 2025: A 1970 Law for a High-Tech Age
In 2025, AI-driven consumer reporting determines jobs, housing, and insurance, but errors now spread faster and with greater consequences. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) remains vital, ensuring access to reports, accuracy, dispute rights, and adverse action notices. Mistakes in background checks, tenant screenings, credit, and insurance can harm individuals, but consumers can challenge inaccuracies and seek damages. Vigilance, proactive monitoring, and legal recourse help balance human impact against automated decision-making.
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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