Welcome to the inaugural edition of ‘SRA Screening Insights’ our new newsletter!
Message from the Editors
Our goal is to provide you with entertaining & insightful news, stories, and topics of discussion in the background screening and human resources world to position you to make the best possible hiring decisions.
We hope you enjoy our newsletter and welcome your suggestions, ideas, and feedback.
Did you know?
In some cases, background checks have uncovered instances where people unknowingly held multiple identities due to clerical errors or historical anomalies. Imagine finding out you’ve been leading a double life without even realizing it!
Inside this Edition
- “High Times” in the Workplace – Post-Accident positivity for Marijuana up 9% year over year.
- Diploma Deception – A national scandal involving the alleged sale of 7,600 fake diplomas.
- I-9 Conundrum – Document fraud is on the rise. Learn how to protect yourself.
High Times in the Workplace
Accidents involving positive Marijuana tests reach a 25-year high.
The percentage of employees in the general U.S. workforce testing positive for marijuana following an on-the-job accident increased to its highest level in 25 years in 2022, according to a new analysis released today by Quest Diagnostics, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services.
In 2022, post-accident marijuana positivity of urine drug tests in the general U.S. workforce was 7.3%, an increase of 9% compared to 6.7% in 2021. The new peak follows a steady increase in post-accident marijuana positivity every year from 2012 to 2022. In that 10-year time frame, post-accident marijuana positivity increased 204.2%. From 2002 to 2009, post-accident marijuana workforce positivity declined.
These increases in post-accident marijuana positivity correspond with the legalization of marijuana in certain states. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Since then, 19 additional states and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of marijuana and 38 states (plus the District of Columbia) have legalized medical use, although either kind of use remains illegal under federal law.
Diploma Deception
20+ people found guilty in an illegal nurse-licensing scheme.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 7,600 fake nursing diplomas were issued by various South Florida-based nursing schools that operated under different names.
Roughly 2,800 individuals who obtained diplomas from the schools passed their national nursing board exams. Many were encouraged to apply for licenses in states like Iowa that do not limit the number of times an individual can take, and fail, the exam, according to state officials.
Mamie Soa Paye of Marion is one of the 4,989 individuals alleged to have received a degree from the Florida schools without completing the required program hours or clinical training. She is currently seeking judicial review of the Iowa Board of Nursing’s November 2023 decision finding her guilty of fraud in procuring a license by falsifying her application, credentials, or other records submitted to the board.
Court records indicate the 2022 criminal investigation of the owners and administrators at several Florida nursing schools led to the accusations against Paye, who attended one of the schools, Med-Life Institute, for 10 months when it was fully accredited by the state of Florida.
I-9 Conundrum
Document fraud alert.
Form I-9 requirements can be exceedingly complex for HR representatives, hiring managers, and others involved in the verification process.
I-9 document errors can present significant potential liability, which generally increases based on the number of mistakes and other factors such as the seriousness of the violations and the organization’s compliance history. Employers may also face criminal charges where there is a reasonable cause to believe that the employer is engaging in a pattern or practice of knowingly hiring unauthorized workers.
Here’s a few ways you can protect your business:
- Include an I-9 form compliance management routine in your new hire orientations. Doing so minimizes the chances of you forgetting to accomplish this vital documentation.
- Make sure to fill out the employer section of the form (Section 2) yourself as much as possible.
- You can’t rely too much on your own eyes, as well as you shouldn’t. Invest in outsourcing this task to a reliable partner that can help you properly verify the documents your applicants will present.
