Weekly Updates and News Weekly
This week’s contents:
Topic of the Week Background Checks
While an employer may have reasons for wanting to do a background check, as a potential employee, you also have rights and an expectation of privacy. For many types of information, an employer needs to get your written permission before they can get information about you. Once an employer has information about you, they must inform you if they take any adverse action against you because of that information. Additionally, an employer cannot use any of the information in a discriminatory manner.
1. But that’s my private information. Does an employer need permission before performing a background check?
For a lot of information, like your school transcripts, medical records, or military service records, your employer needs permission first. An employer also needs your permission if they use an outside agency to gather any background information. If an employer gets your background report without your permission, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
However, employers can find out a lot about you without needing your permission just by typing your name into Google. When applying for a job, make sure to Google yourself so you know what shows up and can attempt to fix any wrong or unfortunate information.
2. Can my employer perform a drug test? That seems personal, like a background check on my body.
Like background checks in general, while the laws vary between states, employers generally can perform drug tests, and in some cases are required to do so. However, an employer’s drug testing policies must be written down, accessible to employees, and applied equally to all applicants and employees.
3. I feel as though my employer is using background checks in discriminatory ways. Only some groups of people seem to be affected by the background checks. What can I do?
In a situation like this, the more relevant law may be discrimination law as opposed to the laws about background checks. The EEOC is the federal agency responsible for enforcement in this area. When an employer inquires about your background, the employer must treat you the same as everyone else, regardless of your race, national origin, color, sex, religion, disability, genetic information, or older age. Even if the employer treats you equally, using background information still may be illegal discrimination.
Thought of the Week
“The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.”
–W.E.B. Du Bois
Weekly Comic by Jerry King
Blog of the Week
Manchin and Sinema are poised to tank $15 minimum wage, so here come the insulting ‘compromises’
A minimum wage increase goes before the Senate parliamentarian on Wednesday to find out if it passes muster for inclusion in the COVID-19 relief package being passed under budget reconciliation.
Top Five News Headlines
- Are You Ready For Microsoft’s Future Workplace?
- Women in business: 3 tips for telling your investors (or bosses) you’re pregnant
- The New York Times paints a grim picture of its own workplace culture
- DA Announces Dedicated Unit to Prosecute Workplace Crimes
- Intimate Partner Violence Is a Workplace Issue
List of the Week
from Economic Policy Institute
Why workers need the Protecting the Right to Organize Act
- Nearly half (48%) of all nonunion workers surveyed say they would vote for a union if given the opportunity
- 65% of Americans who approve of labor unions is higher than it has been since the early 2000s, with young workers ages 18–34 the most supportive.
- Employers are charged with violating the law by firing activists, making illegal threats, and engaging in other unlawful conduct in 41.5% of all organizing campaigns.
Weekly Updates and News Weekly: Archive
Select a date from the list below.
- February 22, 2021
- February 15, 2021
- February 8, 2021
- February 1, 2021
- January 25, 2021
- January 18, 2021
- January 11, 2021
- January 4, 2021
- December 28, 2020
- December 14, 2020
- December 7, 2020
- November 23, 2020
- November 16, 2020
- November 9, 2020
- November 2, 2020
- October 26, 2020
- October 12, 2020
- October 5, 2020
- September 28, 2020
- September 21, 2020
- September 14, 2020
- September 7, 2020
- August 31, 2020
- August 24, 2020
- August 17, 2020
- August 10, 2020
- July 27, 2020
- July 20, 2020
- July 13, 2020
- July 6, 2020
- June 22, 2020
- June 15, 2020
- June 1, 2020
- May 25, 2020
- May 18, 2020
- May 11, 2020
- May 4, 2020
- April 27, 2020
- April 20, 2020
- April 13, 2020
- April 6, 2020
- March 30, 2020
- March 23, 2020
- March 16, 2020
- March 9, 2020
- March 2, 2020
- February 24, 2020
- February 17, 2020
- February 10, 2020
- February 3, 2020
- January 27, 2020
- January 20, 2020
- January 13, 2020
- December 23, 2019
- December 16, 2019
- December 9, 2019
- December 2, 2019
- November 25, 2019
- November 18, 2019
- November 11, 2019
- November 4, 2019
- October 28, 2019
- October 7, 2019
- September 30, 2019
- September 16, 2019
- September 2, 2019
- August 26, 2019
- July 29, 2019
- July 15, 2019
- June 17, 2019
- June 10, 2019
- May 6, 2019
- April 29, 2019
- April 22, 2019
- April 15, 2019
- April 8, 2019
- March 25, 2019
- March 11, 2019
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- February 11, 2019
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- January 21, 2019
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- December 17, 2018
- December 3, 2018
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- January 8, 2018
- January 1, 2018
- December 18, 2017
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- October 16, 2017
- October 9, 2017
- October 2, 2017
- September 25, 2017
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- September 11, 2017
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- February 8, 2016
- February 1, 2016
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- October 12, 2015
- October 5, 2015
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- April 13, 2015
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- March 30, 2015
- March 23, 2015
- March 16, 2015
- March 9, 2015
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- February 23, 2015
- February 16, 2015
- February 9, 2015
- February 2, 2015
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- January 12, 2015
- January 5, 2015
- December 29, 2014
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- December 1, 2014
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- October 1, 2014
- September 24, 2014
- September 17, 2014
- September 11, 2014
- September 3, 2014
- August 19, 2014
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- June 9, 2014
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- March 24, 2014
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- March 10, 2014
- March 3, 2014
- February 24, 2014
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- February 3, 2014
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- September 9, 2013
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- April 8, 2013
- April 1, 2013
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- March 12, 2013
- March 5, 2013
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- February 19, 2013
- February 4, 2013
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- August 14, 2012
- August 6, 2012
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- July 9, 2012
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- May 21, 2012
- May 8, 2012
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- April 23, 2012
- April 16, 2012
- April 2, 2012
- March 27, 2012
- March 19, 2012
- March 13, 2012
- March 6, 2012
- February 14, 2012
- February 6, 2012
- January 30, 2012
- January 17, 2012
- January 9, 2012
- January 3, 2012
- December 27, 2011
- December 12, 2011
- November 27, 2011
- November 20, 2011
- November 13, 2011
- November 7, 2011
- October 24, 2011
- October 17, 2011
- October 10, 2011
- October 3, 2011
- September 26, 2011
- September 12, 2011
- September 5, 2011
- August 29, 2011
- August 1, 2011
- July 11, 2011
- July 4, 2011
- June 27, 2011
- June 20, 2011
- May 23, 2011
- May 9, 2011
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- April 18, 2011
- April 14, 2011
- April 5, 2011
- March 28, 2011
- March 21, 2011
- March 7, 2011
- February 28, 2011
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- February 7, 2011
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- January 3, 2011
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- November 8, 2010
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- September 6, 2010
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- August 16, 2010
- August 9, 2010
- August 2, 2010
- July 26, 2010
- July 19, 2010
- July 12, 2010
- June 28, 2010
- June 21, 2010
- June 14, 2010
- June 7, 2010
- May 31, 2010
- May 24, 2010
- May 17, 2010
- May 10, 2010
- May 3, 2010
- April 26, 2010
- April 19, 2010
- April 12, 2010
- April 5, 2010
- March 29, 2010
- March 22, 2010
- March 15, 2010
- March 8, 2010
- March 1, 2010
- February 22, 2010
- February 14, 2010
- February 8, 2010
- February 1, 2010
- January 25, 2010
- January 18, 2010
- January 11, 2010
- January 4, 2010
- December 28, 2009
- December 21, 2009
- December 14, 2009
- December 7, 2009
- November 30, 2009
- November 22, 2009
- November 15, 2009
- November 8, 2009
- November 1, 2009
- October 26, 2009
- October 12, 2009
- October 5, 2009
- September 28, 2009
- September 21, 2009
- September 14, 2009
- September 6, 2009
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- August 17, 2009
- August 10, 2009
- August 3, 2009
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- July 13, 2009
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- March 8, 2009
- March 2, 2009