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Background Checks Criminal Records Economy Human Resources Miscellany Uncategorized

Should Politicians Undergo Background Checks?

I found this article on the opinion page of the Arizona Republic.   The writer, David S. Farrow, posed in interesting issue and that of politicians undergoing background checks.  Farrow maintains in his opinion piece puts forth that a mnimum wage security guard must undergo a background check.  So why not a politician?

Given the chicanery, financial misdealing, general corruption, and fraud that takes place in the political arena on all levels from federal to state to local governments, Farrow may indeed have a point.   Requiring all political candidates to disclose past criminal and civil records may be a step in the right direction for creating a better legislative body.  As Farrow contests, not all legislators practice due diligence on their political candidates.  I would go further and say that those who may want to practice due diligence may lack the resources and wherewithal to do a comprehensive job of it.  Some of the candidate’s darker history can slip right through the cracks.

Granted, the media does its job and there are citizens who perform due diligence.  But when you consider how many embarrassing instances rise up out of the body politic in the course of a year, you have to wonder if there were any past criminal or civil histories, any financial misdealing or associations that would serve as red flags with regard to the candidate’s behavior as an elected official.  The temptation is so great, after all, and more than a few have succumbed over the past couple of decades.   I think it is fair to say the honor system definitely has its limitations.  I can think of a few instances where researching a candidate’s civil and criminal history could be most revealing.  And in most cases, to be fair, nothing of consequence would show up on their records.  the majority of  candidates are pretty honest and relatively straightforward, considering they are in the world of politics.

So maybe Farrow is right and conducting background checks should be mandated as a logical procedure for political candidates.  It is an interesting concept to ponder.   That’s for sure.

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Background Checks Economy Human Resources Miscellany Recruiting Staffing Uncategorized

The Incredibly Puzzling Job Market

John Zappe on ERE.Net wrote an interesting article, entitled  Consumer Confidence Improves But Job Numbers are Hard to Predict.   Are they ever?   Depending on who you talk to, where they live,the prognosis for the job market various widely.   It may stink in California and Nevada but show signs of life in the Houston and Atlanta.   Some of the Mid-West and Plains States have companies are hiring, but some of the more traditional industrial areas are having their troubles.

As Zappe writes, indicators are that for August 110,000 jobs were lost, but most of them through the continued layoff of Census Workers.  I July, some 71,000 private sector jobs were created.  I think this is the job sector that counts the most.   Zappe points to the ADP National Employment Report.  The Report is usually more conservative than the government’s and usually reports lower job figures.

Here is the synopsis of the ADP National Employment Report for August–The ADP National Employment Report

August 2010 Report

“Private sector employment decreased by 10,000 from July to August on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report® released today. The estimated change of employment from June to July was revised down slightly, from the previously reported increase of 42,000 to an increase of 37,000. The decline in private employment in August confirms a pause in the recovery already evident in other economic data. The deceleration in employment was evident in the major sectors and by size of business. This month’s decline in employment followed six monthly increases from February through July. Over those six months the average monthly gain in employment was 37,000 with no evidence of acceleration.”

In the shorthand, the report indicates that the economic recovery may be slowing down.  Maybe.  But again there are sections of the country where factories are up and recruiting if not brisk is steady.   As for small businesses who are having trouble borrowing money to hire new workers and to upgrade equipment and such, it would be nice if someone could make available some funding.  It would be nice to see the small businesses of America hiring people again.   That more than anything would go a long way toward an economic recovery.

Here are Corra Group, as we conduct background checks for various businesses throughout the United States, we see companies are hiring.   While some of our clients are still pretty quiet, there are others who are moving forward and have intensive recruiting campaigns in operation.  In some cases there are companies who have been making do with skeleton staffs in order to survive, and now with their employees exhausted the employers see it as necessary to bring in additional staff.

Zappe points out that the job sites are posting more jobs that are available.  That should signify something.   But for now it is tough to say what is really going on.   If there is any conclusion that borders on the absolute…it is that there is at this time no real accurate way to predict which way the job market is going.   Everyday is a new adventure.e  Employers hope to survive, and employees hope to keep their jobs.  Or find one.

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Background Checks Criminal Records Human Resources Miscellany preemployment screening Staffing Uncategorized

Alleged Terrorist Beats Hospital Background Checks

Apparently, American health care companies are not the only ones besieged with issues concerning employment hires who have somehow slipped through the cracks on their background checks.   A Canadian Hospital in Ottawa may have inadvertently hired an X-Ray Technician who may have been involved in a homegrown terrorist plot.

According to an article by Meagan Fitzpatrick, in  Politics and the Nation,  the Ottawa Hospital mandates that employment undergo criminal background checks at the applicant’s own expense.  The candidate is then offered the job on a conditional bias, pending the return of their background check.  Should it come back with criminal records,  the hospital is then required to determine the suitability of the hire.   Additionally, the Press Release put out by the hospital says,  “Employees and volunteers who fail to advise their supervisor of any change that could negatively impact their criminal record are subject to dismissal from the hospital.”

Seems clear enough.  But as Fitzgerald attests in her article,  she is, “Pretty sure the charge of conspiracy to facilitate terrorist activity counts as a negative impact.”

I would agree.  So then where was the oversight?  Was it in the actual background check where no charges or criminal records were reported?  Or was it with a staffer or volunteer worker who  failed to review or somehow  overlooked this little glitch in the X-Ray Technician’s history?  And if so, was the oversight accidental or deliberate?    Hard to say.   But I am sure we will hear more on this.

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Background Checks Economy Human Resources Miscellany Motor Vehicle Records preemployment screening Staffing Uncategorized

Oklahoma Requires New Parameters for Motor Vehicle Driving Records

Motor Vehicle Driving Records, or MVRs, are a key part of any pre-employment background check.  For trucking and transportation firms the driving records searches are must be conducted on every commercial drive at least once within a twelve month period.    Failure to conduct MVRs on a  regular basis can result in failure to meet compliance with the Department of Transportation or DOT.   This can result in fines and suspension of a business license.

Because the MVR background check is such an important component of the employment screening world and trucking industry, we at Corra Group try to keep you as current as possible on all changes in the industry.   Usually, this means the Department of Motor Vehicles in one state or another has increased prices, as many are wont to do in order to offset budget constraints in a tough economy.

In this case Oklahoma is modifying its parameters.  Please be advised that effective immediately the Date of Birth is now a required parameter for all Oklahoma MVR requests.

Check them out before you hire.