July 2022 Summaries

Checkr has refreshed its brand identity to better reflect its commitment to building a community of empowered customers in the ever-changing hiring landscape. The new look and feel is designed to showcase the company's mission of creating a fairer future through innovation and technology. The brand attributes are centered around the concept of "clear", which means simple, transparent, or unclouded, and emphasizes fairness, intelligence, approachability, and transparency. The updated brand identity aims to deliver a delightful experience for customers, with a focus on customer needs, innovation, and global reach. The new visual identity features a vibrant color palette, streamlined designs, and a more intuitive navigation on the website. Checkr's community of professionals is growing, and the company is excited to meet its challenges with clarity and transparency in the future of work.

Cheri Garcia, the founder of Cornbread Hustle, a staffing agency dedicated to helping people in recovery and those with criminal backgrounds find employment, has overcome her own struggles with addiction to create a successful business that empowers individuals to transform their lives through employment and entrepreneurship. Despite facing significant challenges, including transportation barriers, myth surrounding violent charges, and lack of empathy from employers, Cheri's company has placed over 1,000 candidates in jobs over the last year. To address these issues, Cornbread Hustle offers a 12-week Starting Over program that helps candidates find self-empowerment through reconnecting with their inner child, setting goals, and sharing wins on social media. The company aims to educate employers about fair chance hiring, emphasizing the importance of getting team leads, managers, and supervisors on board to ensure success. With empathy training for supervisors and internal PR, organizations can transform their environment by creating a purpose-driven workplace that makes a positive impact on people's lives.

The public perception of marijuana has shifted significantly due to its legalization in medical and recreational forms across much of the country, leading to a growing acceptance of its use for medicinal purposes. As a result, employers must navigate the complexities of conducting background checks on employees who use medical marijuana, with key considerations including patient privacy, discretion, formal testing policies, and compliance with state and federal laws. Employers should be aware that medical marijuana cards are protected under HIPAA law, and their purchase history cannot be disclosed without consent. Additionally, some states have specific regulations regarding the use of positive drug tests for marijuana, and employers must research these laws before taking adverse action against employees or candidates. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires regular drug testing for safety reasons in certain industries, and random drug tests can be administered at any time. Employers must also ensure compliance with federal regulations, particularly for federal employees. To streamline background checks, companies can partner with Checkr, which uses industry-leading AI technology to optimize the screening process.