The need for drug testing has never been more crucial…and employer liability only increases as society becomes more casual in the acceptance of drug abuse.

Legalization

Now we may not be as laid back as our friends up north who are handing out free drugs to everyone, but more and more places in the US are legalizing drugs. The CDC reported in June 2020 that 13% of adults, age 18 and older, started or increased their substance use as a result of the pandemic. This means that 33.6 million adults began using illicit drugs to cope with emotions related to COVID-19. ODMAP, an overdose reporting system, found that 62% of US counties experienced increased drug overdoses due to the pandemic.

To keep your workplace safe, productive, and drug-free, knowing all your drug testing options is essential. Common drug test types include urine, saliva, and hair testing.

What Should I Test For?

It is essential to know which drugs to screen for. Some commonly abused drugs are:

• Narcotics: includes heroin, fentanyl, morphine, opium, methadone
• Depressants: includes benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methaqualone, quaaludes
• Stimulants: includes cocaine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, methamphetamine
• Hallucinogens: common “club drugs” such as ecstasy, LSD, phencyclidine
• Cannabis: includes marijuana, THC, hashish
• Synthetics: includes spice, bath salts, anabolic steroids

Types Of Testing Available

It is also essential to review your company policy to ensure all your drug testing needs are being met. Blueline offers many different testing options. Our most popular tests are:

• 5 Panel: includes amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates, and phencyclidine
• 7 Panel: consists of all 5-panel drugs, plus barbiturates and benzodiazepines
• 9 Panel: consists of all 7-panel drugs, plus barbiturates propoxyphene
• 10 Panel: includes all 9-panel drugs, plus methadone and methaqualone
• Popular Add-ons: tramadol, meperidine, fentanyl, spice, bath salts

Knowing which drugs to screen for can be tricky. Luckily, Blueline can help you navigate the right testing configuration for your organization and the proper drug testing policy catered specifically to your needs.

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Here’s a short list of important compliance updates highlighting critical information about laws that a few different states have enacted recently. Keep up to date with any compliance changes by using Blueline Services for your background check and drug testing needs.

Background Check Updates

Maine: Bill LD1167 took effect on October 18, 2021. This bill prohibits employers from requesting criminal history records on an initial application or stating on applications that individuals with criminal history cannot apply. Employers may ask about one’s criminal history during an interview or once it is determined that the applicant is qualified for the position.

New York: Bill Int 1314-2018 also took effect on October 18, 2021. This bill extends and clarifies protections for individuals with pending criminal charges. It requires an assessment of the relationship between the charged conduct and the job, which is the same requirement when considering one’s conviction history.

Drug Testing Updates

New Jersey: The employment sections of New Jersey’s personal cannabis use act went into effect on August 21, 2021. This law says that marijuana use should be treated the same as alcohol use. This means that employers cannot discriminate against people based on marijuana use. However, employers can still drug test upon reasonable suspicion of impairment in the workplace.

New York: The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) amended New York Labor Law 201-D(4-a) to say that employers cannot discriminate against employees based on legal marijuana use outside of the workplace. Employers cannot test for marijuana use unless it is required by a state or federal law (DOT) or the employee is impaired at work under reasonable suspicion.

Stay up to date on these and other compliance updates with Blueline Services so you are aware of any changes that may affect your business. It’s critical that your business avoid compliance violations, and we at Blueline Services are here to help.

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Proper employment screening is the most effective way for companies to reduce their overall risk and liability. Background checks help ensure a quality hiring decision and save your company time and money. Ban the box policies have tightened the regulations on these screenings.

The background check industry is facing significant challenges. Legislation, known as ban-the-box laws, prohibits employers from asking criminal history questions during the hiring process. These laws are intended to provide applicants with a fair chance at employment by delaying background checks until further along in the hiring process. Ban-the-box policies have been enacted in 36 states and over 150 cities.

HR managers are faced with finding the balance between being liable for negligent hiring and giving applicants with a criminal history a fair chance to be evaluated. Thorough background checks can uncover all the information necessary for employers to make the right decisions in hiring.

Being able to access the full records of a potential employee makes the hiring decision much simpler, with the integrity and safety of the company and its current employees being kept secure. It’s understandable to want to give the ability to individuals with checkered histories the chance to return to the workforce without being labeled. However, in certain roles, it’s also imperative the applicant be forthcoming with any hidden records that may impact the role itself.

Staying within compliance is an ever-growing challenge unto itself in this evolving time, and the team at Blueline is here to make it an easier road to navigate. Let us help you through the entire hiring process, and take you through any testing and reporting that may be required after the hiring work is done.

Blueline’s customizable screening services offer:

• Identity verification
• Criminal record checks
• Driving records checks
• Reference checks
• National database

Let Blueline help you keep external threats from becoming internal threats. We are here to make sure you stay in compliance with all new rules and regulations.

The post Ban the Box? appeared first on Blueline.

Louisiana Law Updates- June 2021

Louisiana enacted legislation to prohibit employment discrimination based on criminal history records. Employers now cannot request or consider an arrest record that did not result in a conviction, if the information was found during a background check. Employers are allowed to make assessments about an applicant’s criminal history if it has a direct relationship to the specific job duties. This assessment must consider:

• The nature and gravity of the offense
• The time that has elapsed since the offense
• The nature of the job

 New York Law Updates- July 2021

The Legal Enforcement Guidance on the Fair Chance Act and Employment Discrimination on the Basis of Criminal History was updated by the New York City Commission on Human Rights to consider changes made to the Fair Chance Act. The amendments to New York City’s Fair Chance Act were effective starting July 29, 2021. These amendments add protections for individuals who have unsealed violations and unsealed non-criminal offenses. It also expands protections to cover current employees who face pending criminal charges.

After a conditional offer of employment has been made, employers may conduct criminal background investigations. If reviewing the criminal record makes you reconsider the offer of employment, three steps must be completed before withdrawing the offer.

1. Evaluate the applicant under the Relevant Fair Chance Factors and share the evaluation with the applicant
2. Give the applicant a copy of the background check or any other documents used to determine their criminal record
3. Allow at least 5 business days for the applicant to respond

Staying on top of all these compliance changes can be time-consuming. Stay up to date with any compliance changes by using Blueline Services for all your background check needs.

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At the initial meeting, the applicant showed up in a sweet car and was looking sharp. The manager decided not to run a background check on him. That was a big mistake. This guy paid the first month, moved in, stole the fridge, microwave, and the freaking stove. He then moved on to the carpet and wiring. Before too long neighbors started having issues with their electricity. A knock on his door went unanswered, so the manager let themselves in.

The apartment was destroyed, and when the management company went after him for the damages, he showed up in court looking completely different. He went from looking like a wealthy businessperson to looking like a homeless person, including the accompanying odors. His defense was basically that he had mental issues and had claimed bankruptcy. It turns out he had a history of this behavior, which was listed in detail on his background report.

This video shows another bad tenant horror story: https://youtu.be/Owlx2_L24u8

So, since you can never be completely certain the new renters you just signed with aren’t going to turn your property into a farm, run a thorough background check.

Use Background Checks to Avoid Bad Tenants

Check out this article about bad renters. A thorough tenant screen with Blueline Services helps you avoid these tenants. Background checks should be completed on every potential tenant before allowing them access to the apartment. In certain areas, there are strict laws regarding squatter’s rights, making it almost impossible to evict once the person has moved in. Let our team do the work for you to keep you out of these situations. Sure, there are unforeseen circumstances that happen, but most people aren’t going to trash your property. A background check can end up saving you significant money, while also keeping your property in great condition.

The post Background Checks to Avoid Terrible Tenants (and Goats) appeared first on Blueline.

A California-based background screening company has recently learned this the hard way. The firm has found itself on the hook for providing inaccurate background information. The company received background records from a third-party vendor and didn’t take steps to confirm their accuracy. How would something like this affect your business? Could you recover if you are faced with fines running into the millions of dollars?

The need for background and drug screening is higher than ever. Employers need to provide a safe workplace, and screenings help with that.

Choosing a credible background screening provider should involve more than a quick glance at Google. There are companies out there that don’t see anything wrong with cutting corners. When working with compliance issues, there is no corner-cutting. Blueline Services provides thoroughly researched and vetted reports that are relevant, up to date, and most importantly, credible. Our platform will give you accurate, easily navigable reports to ensure you stay within compliance.

The post Why Having a Credible Screening Provider Matters appeared first on Blueline.

There are several ways to approach the Super Bowl at work and increase employee engagement. The Monday after the game has more people calling out sick than any other day of the year. According to a survey conducted by Office Team, 72% of HR professionals want the day turned into a holiday. Until that happens, let’s look at some tips to help you keep your employees engaged and at work.

1. Plan an employer-sponsored breakfast. You will get more people into the office if you give them a positive experience as soon as they arrive. The breakfast will also give them the chance to talk about the game with their co-workers without taking up productivity time.
2. Entice employees into the office by running a super bowl raffle. Have everyone fill out a ticket and put their guess at the games’ score, who will win the MVP, etc. Announce the winner Monday morning with the caveat that the employee must be present to win.
3. If your company can afford it, give your employees a late start on Monday. Everyone needs to come to work, but the start time could be delayed by a few hours. This not only builds morale; it also gets far more people into the office.

Things to be aware of while planning for the Super Bowl:

1. Reasonable Suspicion: In years past Blueline has seen a significant spike in positive alcohol and drug tests the week after the super bowl. Keep your workplace safe and be mindful of safety-sensitive positions within your company.
2. Office Pools: Office pools can lead to legal issues if not properly implemented. Check to ensure your company has a policy that complies with local and state laws. You can be more strict, but don’t allow pools if they’ve been deemed illegal by the state.
3. Revenue costs: The number of people who call out sick causes a total loss of revenues over $2 billion dollars. A survey done by Challenger, Gray, and Christmas found that the dollar figure could rise even higher in the years to come.

The Super Bowl can be fun. It can also make the workplace more enjoyable for a few days. Keep your employees engaged with work while still having fun. Not only will you be more productive, but you’ll also have better retention rates as well. Blueline Services can help with background and screening checks to make the employers’ guide to any event simple and straightforward.

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There are specific issues you must address when dealing with background screenings. Here is a brief rundown:

• Approved Purpose: You may use a third-party company to run background checks for approved purposes like prescreening potential employees. When requesting a background check for employment considerations, you must follow the FCRA provisions and guidelines.
• Written Disclosure: Potential candidates must be given written disclosure advising of the background check. You must present this document separately to the candidate, and they have to give their signed consent before the screening can be ordered.
• Completed Results: After the screening comes back the potential employee must be shown the information to have the opportunity to challenge any wrong or missing information.
• Adverse Action: There are 2 steps you must take when the screening reports an adverse result that will be grounds to deny employment. First, you’ll need to provide them with a pre-adverse action notification and a copy of the report, along with a copy of “A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.” After providing them these documents, you’ll need to wait at least five days, maybe longer depending on your local rules, to allow the candidate to offer a rebuttal on the report. The second step is to provide them with a written adverse employment decision notice.

Following these guidelines can be time-consuming and confusing for a business to handle. That’s why it is so important to find a good background screening company like Blueline Services. We are up-to-date on FCRA Employer Compliance Responsibilities.

The information provided above is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be legal advice.

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The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has updated the state’s criminal background check rules to expand California Worker Protections. The new rules expand the scope of the Fair Chance Act and let employers know they intend to enforce the new regulations.

New Legal Requirements

The newest updates create worker protections dealing with Covid-19, criminal background check stipulations, and rules for providing notifications to candidates. The California Worker Protections Fair Chance Act prohibits the majority of employers from inquiring into a candidate’s criminal past before a conditional offer of employment has been made. Employers can’t include any questions that request the disclosure of criminal history to ensure the candidates are being judged on merit and not past indiscretion.

Arrests that didn’t end up with convictions may not be used as consideration for employment, with a few exceptions. The employer can’t revoke a job offer until they have reviewed and conducted an individualized assessment while providing the candidate time to respond to the allegations before the employer can make a final decision. After the assessment, if the employer revokes the offer, they must wait five business days for the candidate to respond.

The employer must notify the candidate in writing if the offer is denied. This is only after the fair chance process has run its course.

Why It Matters

Employers should make sure that all screening and hiring policies and processes are updated and revised to align with the DFEH’s guidance. Employers who rely on a candidate’s criminal history to make an employment decision must follow the Act’s specific personalized assessment and notice requirements. Background screening options that identify the potential impact of the fair chance act might help mitigate the risks of regulatory action, hearings, or other exposure that can harm an employer’s brand and status.

The post California Worker Protections and the Fair Chance Act appeared first on Blueline.

Workplace Injuries are Climbing

Manufacturing, construction, and transportation sectors tend to have higher rates of injury than most due to the industries’ nature. As a result of accidents happening at work, the employee and the employer face challenging times ahead.

The loss of salary, time, and increased healthcare expenses all contribute to the stress and worry of dealing with injuries. While several things can cause workplace accidents, drug and alcohol usage is a rising factor in on the job accidents.

Positive Tests on the Rise

An analysis from the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index shows a significant increase in positive tests over the last five years. The number of people working under the influence of drugs and alcohol is on the rise as well. The safety-sensitive workforce is experiencing the highest levels of post-accident positivity rates as measured by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Drug Testing Programs

Drug testing programs can help an employer’s lower workplace accidents and injuries. Pre-employment drug testing is a great way to keep potential users from even applying for the job. Focusing on workplace safety initiatives within your company should include a drug testing policy. It will show prospective employees that you care about the health and well-being of all the employees.

There are several positive reasons to implement a testing program. The most important reason is the safety of your employees.  A safe workforce is a productive one.

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