lock take hide signs

What is Your Security Culture?

Tasha Dyson, CFESecurity Program Development

These two signs provide the same basic security advice. What makes them different? The culture of the organization. The sign on the left appears in parking decks owned by the City of Raleigh. Similar signs are found in other municipal, government, and public parking lots and decks. “Lock-Take-Hide” is a good, quick reminder to protect vehicles and property in parking …

dragon

Nationwide Criminal Search: A Persistent Myth

Tasha Dyson, CFEBackground Investigation

Dragons. Mermaids. Fairies. The Loch Ness Monster. Bigfoot. Leprechauns. Nationwide criminal searches. All are mythical creatures. We’re asked all the time if we offer a “nationwide criminal search” or a “multi-state criminal search”. The answer is always “No.” Why not? Because it simply doesn’t exist. When you talk about a “nationwide criminal search” or a “multi-state criminal search”, what do …

HPG Employee Theft Article

From HPG – Guard against Losses from Employee Theft

Tasha Dyson, CFECompliance, Security Program Development, Theft, Embezzlement, and Fraud

Employee theft costs companies billions of dollars a year. This poses a very serious threat to profitability if left unchecked. Therefore, every business needs to set up some internal controls to thwart this type of fraud. This article from Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP entitled “Guard against Losses from Employee Theft” looks at a few simple steps to take that …

time

Why Do Background Investigations Take So Long?

Tasha Dyson, CFEBackground Investigation

Time is the number one challenge for employers in the background investigations process. That was one finding in the study entitled “How Human Resource Professionals View the Use and Effectiveness of Background Screening Methods” published by NAPBS and HR.com in June 2018. You can read the entire report here. The report did not include the expectation about how long background …

technology rush

The Wild West of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Tasha Dyson, CFECompliance, Computer Forensics, Mobile Forensics

The Wild West When you think about the Wild West, what do you see? Do you picture unspoiled scenery, picturesque cattle drives, spacious farms, gold miners, unfettered individual freedom, rugged individualism, and no federal income taxes? This is definitely a “romantic” picture. Remember the darker side. Don’t forget about the lawless gangs of robbers, disputes settled by gunfights, and clashes …

arrest records

Can You Consider Arrest Records?

Tasha Dyson, CFEBackground Investigation, Compliance

Let’s consider arrest records for a moment. Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. published by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an excellent resource. Much of the information in this section comes from that source. …

background screening report

What Should You Expect in a Background Screening Report?

Tasha Dyson, CFEBackground Investigation

You’ve read the application, reviewed the resume, and interviewed the candidate. She seems like a good fit, and you’ve made a conditional offer of employment that will be based on the results of background screening report. As part of the background check process, you ask the candidate for additional information, including her past criminal history. (Read more about when to …

criminal history question on application

What is “Ban the Box” and What Does it Mean to You?

Tasha Dyson, CFEBackground Investigation, Compliance, News

Here in North Carolina, legislators recently proposed new “Ban the Box” legislation. This legislation would prohibiting state government from asking about a candidate’s criminal history until making a conditional offer of employment (HB 233, HB238, and SB174). “Ban the Box” is already law in other cities, counties, and states, and it is an idea that is gaining in popularity and …

nationwide criminal record searches from one vendor

What’s Missing in Your Nationwide Criminal Search?

Tasha Dyson, CFEBackground Investigation

One of our core services is investigations, and we do a lot of pre-employment background investigations. We are often asked if we can include a “nationwide criminal search”, and we explain that there is no such thing as a public, comprehensive, nationwide criminal record check that searches all courts and jurisdictions. They say, “But I can get one for $19.95 …