Handcuff Headlines

Home Depot reached a $1.8 million settlement this week, and many people stand to benefit. In other news, Texas is experiencing difficulties due to the dropping gas prices. Some economists even speculate that a recession may be on the brink for the state. Top class actions:

Last week, the FCRA urged the Supreme Court to pursue a case, despite the lack of actual damages. This week, the court continues an EEOC lawsuit against Rosebud restaurants, despite the lack of a plaintiff.

This week has seen several upsets—in the economy, in the courts, and in New York. We will keep you updated on the changes coming. JDSupra Business Adviser: CFPB Urges SCOTUS:

This week, the cases of compliance in the news were about companies winning against the EEOC and FCRA. As more companies become educated about what exactly is required for compliance, accurately assess their risk, and take the steps to mitigate that risk, this phenomena may become more common.

You don’t give yourself enough credit if you’re in HR. No, really. You have the power to transform your company, to empower your employees and to protect the business. It’s all about HR this week. Inc.: Six Dumb Things Your Employees Are Doing Online … Image:

Huffington Post: EEOC Releases 2014 Statistics … The EEOC data has finally been correlated and released, so employers and HR professionals can see where the trends are. In 2013, retaliation-based charges continues to make up the majority of charges.

March 7—March 8, 2015 … The economy continues the growth trend of 2015, and most predictions continue to be positive, despite reports of deflation. As hiring continues, employers should take a careful look at their background screening process.

Small business owners, more than most, have to straddle the present and the future.

Last week, the focus was on FCRA compliance and the disclosure form as a part of the application process. Now, we have shifted to EEOC compliance. The EEOC is back in the spotlight, but they come out the loser in the Freeman case again (the case was originally filed in 2009).

In 2014, the EEOC and FCRA wreaked havoc with several household names for their employment and background checking policy, including Whole Foods, Family Dollar and BMW. Now, Michael’s is on the chopping block again for a faulty disclosure form.

It’s rare that employment screening is leading the news from two countries, but that is the case this week. Uber is increasing their security, and other countries are looking for better ways to screen their employees. It may be time to reconsider your screening process as well. Quartz:

Jan. 23—Jan. 24, 2015 … This week, there has been a lot of talk about what’s important—from the State of the Union to offices around the country projecting into 2015. What is truly important, and how do you make the most of the time and resources you have?