PA background check law for schools being challenged

A Pennsylvania law that’s been revised to protect children has some school employees filing suits trying to keep their jobs.

According to the Associated Press, at least four lawsuits have been filed around the commonwealth challenging the state Department of Education’s application of new rules about criminal records to current employees. Under the law that took effect last fall, school employees must report any arrests or convictions of serious crimes in their past and must also report any future arrest or conviction within three days. The requirement applies to crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, sexual assault or aggravated assault and applies to teachers, administrators, support staff and contractors.

The department has told administrators to fire any employee who comes into contact with children and has been convicted of any of the 28 listed offenses. The lawsuits, filed in Allegheny, Dauphin, Delaware and York counties, argue that the law should be interpreted to only pertain to future employees, not current ones. They further argue that the law is unconstitutional because it violates the due process rights of employees since it essentially penalizes them for crimes for which they’ve already been punished.

Time will tell whether the courts find any merit in these lawsuits, but we’ll certainly keep tabs on this issue. 

http://www.verifyprotect.com/

Even Temporary Summertime Employees Should Be Screened

Summer is the time of vacations, workplace turnover and temporary positions. Tourism and hospitality industries see a lot of transient workers pass through its businesses, as temporary and part-time employees swell the ranks to fill holes in schedules and make up for the increased demand.

While all that shifting and adding to the workforce is just a part of life for many businesses, it shouldn’t come at the expense of keeping everyone safe and keeping your business free from liability risks. Some employers may be tempted to skirt the usual protocol of conducting pre-employment background checks, rationalizing that these workers will only be here a few months so why bother with the expense and hassle? But that’s a dangerous decision to make.

It’s a good idea to do a criminal background check on all job applicants who pass the initial interview and application process. Employment screening companies will work with employers to comply with federal and state laws and recommend the types of pre-employment screening necessary based upon the job’s requirements. Remember that some seasonal employees may become full-time staff, so it’s best to have all the background information available for all employees in order to make the most informed decision about someone’s future employment.

Follow VerifyProtect.com on Twitter!