Month: May 2011

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Background Checks Business Credit Reports Criminal Records Economy Human Resources Miscellany preemployment screening Staffing Uncategorized

Man Avoids Background Check and Murders Church Minister

I know Chatham, New Jersey, but then I don’t know Chatham, N.J.  My cousin lives there and as such I am familiar with the demographic–affluent, educated, the kind of place where vandalism can garner major attention.  In fact, sometimes I joke with my cousin, sardonically referring to the excitement there.

And then a custodian  is suspected of murdering the church minister, and everything is different.  At the time of the murder, the suspect was dodging a 1988 case in Pennsylvania where he assaulted a seventeen-year-old girl.   Apparently that wasn’t enough, as the custodian allegedly stabbed the church minister to death.

The article on NJ.Com reported the custodian who worked at St. Patrick’s elementary school as well as the church, was the only employee or volunteer at St. Patrick who hadn’t met the requirements for background checks set by the Diocese of Paterson for those who have contact with children.    Apparently, he avoided the background check requirement for quite some time.   This would not be the first time a convicted felon was able to put off the background check and keep working.  Sadly, their past criminal records are usually discovered after they commit a crime.

In this case, the custodian is reported to have confessed to the murder.  Morris County Assistant Prosecutor John McNamara Jr. is seeking to prove that the custodian  stabbed  the minister because the priest was preparing to fire him after learning of his criminal background.   The custodian claims he  stabbed the church minister during an argument after the priest threatened to fire him for ending a four-year sexual affair.  The county DA is buying it and considers the custodian’s account to be self serving as it would show motives base don emotion and possible provocation, rather than cold blooded murder.

Had there been the background check, perhaps this tragedy could have possibly been avoided.

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Background Checks Economy Human Resources Miscellany preemployment screening Recruiting Staffing Uncategorized

Reminder for the New Employment Laws in Philadelphia

For employers who are located in Philadelphia,  we want to remind you there is a notable change regarding hiring practices, coming your way.

Effective July 13th, 2011 public and private employers with at least 10 employees operating in the city of Philadelphia PA may not ask candidates to disclose any arrest that did not result in a conviction and may not ask about any criminal convictions during the application process or during an initial interview.

However, employers in Philadelphia are still capable of ordering any series of background checks they believe will meet their needs.  Such background checks certainly include the criminal records searches, which is standard for most employers.   In fact,  employers in the Philadelphia area may wish to be more comprehensive with their employment screening practices in confirming the actually background of their employment candidates.

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Background Checks Criminal Records Human Resources Miscellany preemployment screening Recruiting Staffing Uncategorized

What to Order on Employment Background Checks

Mot employers know that in today’s world it is cost effective to conduct background checks in order to discern who you are bringing into your workforce.   There are any number of background checks and the type of background searches can vary according to the level of hire.  Executive recruits will naturally need a more comprehensive set of background checks than entry level personnel.

There are factors to consider.  Criminal background searches fall into three basic categories.  The Database Searches, which are good as supplements as they return quickly and tend to cover a lot of regions.  But they are far form the perfect instrument as each state will report at its own discretion.  There are State Criminal Non-Database Searches, and, the most accurate, the County Criminal Records Searches.    There are also Federal Criminal Records, which usually apply to white collar crimes or for compliance issues.  Federal contractors typically need, among other background checks, the Federal Criminal records search.

For certain hires you will want to check their education or employment verifications.  You may wish to conduct reference verifications.  The list goes on.

Kate Rogers on Fox Business does a good job of preparing a to do list.  Her article is worth the few minutes to read it.  Rogers’ article may not contain everything about background checks and employment screening, but it is a nice foundation.

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Background Checks Criminal Records Economy Human Resources Miscellany preemployment screening Recruiting Retaining Employees Staffing Uncategorized

The Increase in Workplace Suicides

Workplace suicides are at a record high.   In both 2008 and 2009,  263 persons took their lives on the job.   The year before, 2007, 196 persons killed themselves on the job.  We are not talking about Chinese workers in the iPad factory here.  We are talking about American workers.  And while these are not large numbers, really, they certainly are notable.

According to an article written by Ruth Mantell for  Market Watch,  most people who killed themselves on the job were men.  Wage and salary workers actually saw a reduction in suicides, while the  quantity of  suicides among the self employed increased.  Typically, during recessions and economic downturns suicides increase.   Workers are under more stress.  They are financially pressed, especially small business owners who see their revenue decline.  Workers fear for their jobs, worry about downturns.  The pressure of it all builds up at home and creates ancillary conflicts.

And then there is that little matter of employees being worked to the bone.  Companies downsize in economic crisis, and even when there is a turn around, they are reluctant to rehire their former complement of employees.   In some cases the employers are being cautious and fear a double dip recession.  In others, simply put, the employers have learned to do more with less.   Doing with fewer employees may improve the bottom line, but the  added pressure on the remaining employees,  may lead to additional consequences.  Ultimately, it is one thing to demand more in a  crisis, but  at another level if you work your employees too long and too hard there will be diminishing returns.  Issues like substance abuse arise in these conditions.  Workplace violence increases.   And then the there are the few who choose to take their own lives.

Many people define themselves by their work.  If they are no longer working there is the potential for an identity crisis and along with financial and domestic difficulties, some will lapse into despair.

In harsh economic times, there are certain numbers where we relish their increase.   Workplace suicides is certainly not one of them.