What is the difference between comprehensive and instant background checks?
Instant background checks are more commonly known as “national criminal database searches” and provide general information pulled from a commercially available database. Although they have a quick return, the information is not corroborated against any official county court record and can provide inaccurate information as it’s not derived from a verified source. Comprehensive background checks are all-encompassing and compiled from a variety of sources, including local law enforcement, statewide criminal record repositories, departments of corrections, state parole and probation records, local public records sources, etc. This prevents mistaken identity matches that sometimes occur with instant checks when a person with the same name as the applicant has hits on their record. Employers must be cautious when choosing a background check process because choosing an instant check over a comprehensive check could lead to fines and lawsuits if they don’t abide by the guidelines set forth under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Is CBD oil considered acceptable, and can it cause a drug test to have a positive result?
CBD oil can be made from both marijuana and hemp. Hemp based CBD oils, when used in low doses, are unlikely to result in a positive test because they often don’t contain high enough levels of THC for detection. If an employee is using hemp-derived CBD oil, most individuals would have to consume a relatively large amount of the product, to test non-negative. Note: Taking that much CBD oil could result in the user’s impairment.
Doses aren’t standardized across brands and some recommend higher doses than others. In addition, hemp-derived CBD oils aren’t FDA regulated and the advertised THC levels of products can be unreliable. As a result of varying dose recommendations and uncertain THC levels, taking CBD oil comes with a risk of a non-negative test result.
If states overturn previous marijuana convictions, how does it impact background checks?
With the legalization of marijuana across many states, cities such as San Francisco have implemented conviction expunging policies (Proposition 64) which remove misdemeanors and non-violent charges related to marijuana. Policies like these aim to get previous convictions reduced or reclassified to lesser offenses, with some convictions being dismissed altogether. This means that charges that are expunged will not appear on background checks. Employers need to implement a comprehensive background check process that will navigate individual state and city regulations. When employers use cheaper instant background checks, information can be incorrect or outdated, which could lead to potential lawsuits or liability in the workplace.
In addition, employers should consider services, such as social security number validity, criminal history for federal, county, and state, employment verification, etc., to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information.
How do I find out about specific consortium owner requirements?
DISA’s Client Services department team can answer most questions you may have. Please call them at 281-673-2450. In addition, your contractor employer should be able to provide information about specific owner requirements.