Pre-Employ Blog

In court, the defendant is usually put under the microscope. However, jurors involved in the highly publicized trial of a well-known Boston mobster may see the light shined on them. Prosecutors in the case have asked those serving jury duty submit to background checks to ensure they have no ties to the criminal underground.

A recent Massachusetts state audit of home-based childcare businesses revealed a chillingly high number of sex offenders could be working at such facilities after the study linked their addresses to those of childcare services and found background checks on workers were not completed in many instances.

More teachers than ever before are required to submit to background checks in order to be employed by schools. Massachusetts recently became the last state in the union to mandate teachers undergo national criminal and sex offender checks.

Screening employees for drug use by testing hair follicles has gained a growing following because some believe it is the most accurate method of detection. However, employers that drug test employees may want to avoid using such techniques for now, or risk serious reputational damage after a Massachusetts state board ordered police who were fired as a result of positive hair test results be reinstated.