Month: March 2011

Categories
Criminal Records Economy Miscellany Uncategorized

Tennessee Gun Permit Owners May Be Exempt from Background Checks

Given the current climate with respect to gun control and background checks, this is an interesting turn of events.   According to WREG.Com,   The Tennessee Legislature is putting forth a bill that would exempt handgun permit owners form undergoing background checks when purchasing a firearm.

Given the general controversy following the Tuscon where a federal judge and other bystanders were killed and wounded, and where Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and several others were seriously wounded.    There has been in some circles call for stricter enforcement of background checks for firearms purchases.   Mayor Michale Bloomberg is leading other public officials and church groups in pursuit of stricter enforcement of this type of background check, especially at private gun shows.

Another proposal was claiming it is  not an occupational hazard for employers to allow workers with handgun permits to carry their weapons on the job.  That measure is headed for a full Senate vote after also passing the Senate Judiciary Committee 8-1.

There was a third measure.   Anyone who owns land  in Tennessee  would not need to apply for a handgun permit.  That bill was withdrawn from consideration.

Categories
Background Checks Criminal Records Economy Human Resources Miscellany Staffing Uncategorized

Background Checks at Washington D.C. Court Houses May Experience Delays

As everyone with a pulse knows, there is much rancor in Washington D.C.  With the rancor are recent concerns about the federal budget and various implications that the federal government will be closed until the budget debate is finally resolved.   Yes, closed as legislators strive to sort out the economy, the budget, and do so in the grand style of bombast we have grown so used to.

With that in mind, as Washington D.C. closes, so does its courthouses.  For those conducting background checks for employment screening purposes, it may be tougher retrieving county criminal records and county civil records.

So…with that in mind….the budget standoff should result in either limited or lack of access to the D.C. Courts.  Should the government shutdown proceed, they will be furloughed.  However, if the government is shut down our researchers will still be making daily trips to the D.C. Courthouses to check on the status of operations.


Categories
Background Checks Criminal Records Economy Human Resources Miscellany preemployment screening Staffing Uncategorized

When Employers Bear the Burden for Workplace Violence

While in some sectors there is a call to ease up on background checks, the obvious question that comes to mind is who bears the brunt of it if an employee who snaps out and commits to violence in the workplace turns  out to have a history as  a convicted felon? Why the employer, of course.  The employer will incur the damages, the litigation and liability issues the public embarrassment and the knowledge that employees were harmed in the working environment.

When violence is committed in the workplace, the first question asked, once the bodies and debris are cleared, is why wasn’t he checked out?  Why didn’t the employer know there was a criminal history, that there were substance issues, domestic violence, or that the violent employee was so adversely  affected by the economy he acted out.

Why indeed?  Possibly because the employer was negligent in conducting the appropriate background checks on employment candidates.  Possibly because no one reviewed the finished report and the employee was hired despite his violent past.   Or possibly some well intentioned civic action group invoked illogical judgment that ultimately restricted any comprehensive employment screening.    All in the name of fairness.

So what’s fair?   That someone isn’t hired because of a criminal past?  Or that an employee becomes a victim and suffers irretrievable physical and psychological harm, because a disturbed individual with some type of grudge or because he was feeling poorly about his finances, or was embattled with his lover, or because he just didn’t like the day?

This is a question or serious question that will be faced legally and empirically in the very near future.   Tough choices and no easy answers.