The Human Resources profession is challenging during a normal year, and 2020 can be classified as anything but normal. 2020 may have beat and battered you until you feel like you have no energy left. It’s important to take time to nourish your soul and remind yourself that what you do it crucial to your company. While the people who made these statements weren’t directing them to HR at the time, they are certainly relevant. Here are quotes from famous people that, if you think about it, relate directly to HR.

Topics: HR competencies, company culture, Human Resources, workplace safety

In the past few years, there has been a growing trend of eliminating the box on the job application that asks if the applicant has prior criminal convictions. This is know as the "Ban the Box" movement. North Carolina is the latest in a long line of states and other municipalities to pass "Ban the Box" guidance. 

Topics: North Carolina, Criminal records, Good hiring practices, Ban the Box, unlawful discriminatory hiring practice, regulatory changes

States are opening back up and organizations are starting to bring work-from-home employees, as well as furloughed ones, back to their original work spaces. However, employers can’t simply open the doors and proceed as though everything is back to normal. COVID-19 is still a serious concern and spreading it is as easy as it’s ever been.

Topics: Background screening, COVID-19, workplace safety, COVID-19 screening

“I don’t believe you.”

While we probably don’t need to come right out and say that to job candidates’ faces, it’s important to understand that everything they are telling you may not be the whole truth.

Topics: Background screening, faking degrees, background screening company, background screen, background check, resume lies, 7 steps, Best Practices, social security trace, background checks, background screening practices, Verifications

Robots answering common client questions. A computer program that tracks applicants from first touch through onboarding. Taking employee temperatures as they walk through the door.

All of these sound like they would be part of a 1990’s sci-fi movie, right? The truth is, they’re happening right here in 2020! Artificial Intelligence (AI), Bluetooth technology, and mobile applications are becoming increasingly essential and mainstream every month. Not knowing how they can assist HR can cause your department to falter in progress.

Topics: Millennials, best onboarding practices, Employer hot topics, AI automation in HR

Here is an up-to-date list of important changes and extensions being allowed that our healthcare clients may find valuable. Remember, these are subject to change at any time. 

Topics: COVID-19, Human Resources, regulatory changes

“What's your current income?”

For decades, employers asked job seekers this question without hesitation. A candidate’s income was considered an open book that HR and hiring managers felt privy to without compunction. Salary information could be used to figure out the type of compensation package an applicant would accept, and even what they were worth.

Hiring managers could reach certain conclusions from a job seeker’s salary history. If it was too high, employers might decide to pass over offering the person the job because they were “too expensive”. If it was too low, the applicant could be perceived as not qualified enough or further along in their career path to handle the expectations of the position they were seeking.

All this is evolving, and HR must be ready.

Topics: Good hiring practices, salary history ban, salary history question

The Coronavirus has upended just about everything. We all want to see our lives get back to normal, but what will that mean? The future is murky, and we all agree there will be some permanent changes to the world. These are bound to alter our working environment.

Looking into the the next few months and years to what this means for us, and we see a considerable change in certain aspects of the workplace. Here are 10 predictions on how COVID-19 will permanently impact the workplace.

Topics: hiring process, company culture, Coronavirus, COVID-19

In the wake of COVID-19 employers are striving to keep their businesses open and profitable. Doing this means that there is still hiring that must be done.

Topics: Background screening, background screening company, COVID-19, employment screening, background screening process

The Coronavirus pandemic hit just about every facet of business hard, and the hiring process didn't escape. Regulations set beforehand are not realistic to enforce during the lock down and social distancing. A recent Data Facts blog post discussed DHS relaxing I-9 requirements due to COVID-19, allowing job candidates to complete I-9 forms remotely. 

Now the United States Citizenship Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, as of May 1, 2020, 

Topics: Employment screening policy, hiring process, COVID-19, I-9 requirement