NEWS

A Note from ClearChecks on HireRight Acquisition & New BackgroundChecks.com

Every Employers Needs to Know About this AI Law

The rise and spread of artificial intelligence-powered solutions is happening across every industry. Many employers have either already decided to try out or implement AI solutions in their hiring processes or have noticed AI features appearing in solutions they were already using. As a result of the rise in AI use across the country, a few jurisdictions across the U.S. have started to introduce legislation governing the use of AI, including New York, Illinois, Maryland and Colorado. As of December 2024, Texas has proposed legislation too.

Recruitment & Retention in Transportation in 2024

Across the United States, there are millions of individuals working as truck drivers and in other regulated transportation roles. This workforce plays a vital role in the economy, but the demand for new drivers continues to create challenges for carriers. Recruitment is not the only issue, retaining current drivers has increasingly proven to be an area of concern for employers, too. Strategic planning is a must for carriers looking to respond to these issues in ways that drive growth and contribute to success.

Why Rescreening Employees Matter

For many employers across America, background screening is purely an element of the initial hiring process. According to HireRight’s 2024 Global Benchmark Report, 57% of responding employers stated they did not conduct any form of post-hire monitoring or screening. Fifty-three percent of respondents clarified that the absence of regulatory requirements drove that decision. While post-hire screening is common in some industries, it has so far not been a priority for other employers.

Exploring Automatic Criminal Record Relief & Examples

Possessing a criminal record can create many barriers and close doors to individuals seeking new opportunities to improve their lives. Problems with obtaining employment aren't uncommon for such individuals, and many efforts have taken place nationwide to expand opportunities for those with a record. Legislative efforts to offer individuals a "clean slate" have taken place across the United States. While some criminal record sealing and expungement processes require a court petition or a legal motion, automatic criminal record relief has grown to be an option in more states.

The Changing Role of Credit Checks

The nature of recruitment and hiring has undergone some large shifts over the last five years. From the economic and social disruption of a global health crisis to the spread of remote work, employers and job applicants alike have had to navigate new challenges. For businesses, having the right solutions for identifying individuals to hire has only grown more important. Where do credit checks for employment fit into this shifting landscape?

An Overview of Pay Transparency and Salary History Laws

When can an employer ask a job applicant about how much money they’ve made at prior job roles? What information related to pay scales should an employer disclose? Across the country, legislation exists to address these questions related to salary history and pay transparency. Here’s what to know about the state of these laws today.

About AI-Driven Employment Decisions in Small Business

The rise and spread of artificial intelligence-powered solutions has already had a big impact on industries around the world. Opportunities to streamline processes and engage with automation on a deeper level seem to be everywhere. This expanding availability has already led many employers to investigate or adopt the use of AI, including automated employment decision tools (AEDTs), in their processes.

10 Tips for Improved Candidate Experiences

The hiring process centers around identifying job applicants that are the best fit for a position. To that end, it can be easy for a business to focus only on its needs and the experiences of its recruiters and hiring managers. Neglecting the quality of the candidate experience during the hiring process can have troublesome impacts, as building a reputation as a good place to work starts early.

The Impact of Clean Slate Laws on Employment Screening: What Employers Need to Know

How to Eliminate Bias in Tenant Background Checks

While some municipalities have taken steps in recent years to curtail how landlords vet prospective potential renters, tenant background checks are illegal in some places but legal, with restrictions, in others. For instance, in Portland, a landlord cannot use a felony conviction older than seven years to deny a tenant application. Misdemeanors may only be considered if they occurred within the past three years. Portland’s rules are more liberal than many other parts of the country. Still, a growing movement advocates more lenient tenant screening policies nationwide to eliminate discrimination and bias.

Renter's Bill of Rights' Impact on Real Estate Background Checks

Across the country, the rules and regulations governing the housing market vary substantially. A tenant’s experience trying to find housing in New York City can be dramatically different from the experience someone has in Kansas City. There is much confusion, especially when considering the requirements tenants face during the application process. However, one thing remains constant in almost every market: using a background check in real estate.

What Background Checks Do Landlords Do?

In most cases, when applying to rent an apartment, house, or other property from a landlord or property management company, a prospective tenant will need to agree to a background check. Landlords use these screenings to learn more about their applicants and make educated guesses about their risk and how the tenants suit the rudiments of existing renters.

New York City Limits Tenant Background Check Options

Over 750,000 people in the New York metropolitan area have a criminal record. That massive population means that the city is among the leaders in the United States for Fair Chance legislation. Advocates often point out that records create severe barriers to jobs and housing. A landlord using a tenant background check might deny many rehabilitated applicants with a criminal record.

Nationwide Housing Crisis Drives Controversy Over Tenant Screening

Many social systems are still struggling to recover and stabilize due to the economic measures intended to mitigate the impact of the 2020 pandemic. The housing rental sector has been particularly hard hit by these after-effects.

Breaking Down Cost Factors for Background Checks

For many businesses, conducting background checks is central to the hiring process. Employers may choose to consider many factors, from the accuracy of an applicant’s resume to job-relevant criminal history. Obtaining such reports can be a vital part of an organization’s risk mitigation efforts. However, these efforts aren’t free—and small businesses need to consider the impact on their budget. What are the main cost factors for background checks?

NY Landlords' Calls to Repeal the State’s Tenant Protection Act Fail

In mid-2019, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019. The legislation contained numerous changes to state rental law. For example, security deposits became limited to one month’s rent. The rules surrounding eviction and tenant background checks have also changed. Initially, landlords pushed back against the law, which took immediate effect. Numerous landlords went to the media to argue for the immediate repeal of the law.

Revived Bill to Ban Tenant Background Checks in New York City Passes

Having a criminal record is often a significant barrier in life. For those trying to re-enter society, a record can close many doors. Even seemingly minor convictions can give pause to employers, landlords, and others. Though many think of how convictions create barriers to employment, they affect more than that. Housing opportunities can face a significant impact. For years, those impacts have been why the City Council has tried to ban tenant background checks in New York City.

A Look at ClearChecks

Fair Chance Housing Ordinances and Tenant Background Checks Update

If you are a landlord, it demands careful attention to the laws and ordinances in your local jurisdiction. Fair Chance Housing ordinances inspire regulatory measures in many parts of the country, some limiting a landlord’s ability to conduct tenant background checks. This post explores recent movements in fair chance housing and how landlords could approach the tenant application process.