As the initial hoopla surrounding the legalization of cannabis has died down, the conversation has shifted to more practical considerations raised largely by employers and employees alike: What workplace drug policies should employers adopt? Does my employer get to fire me if I test positive for marijuana, even if I used it during non-work hours? As I noted in a previous posting on the cannabis law, the legislature did not place any restrictions on employers’ ability to impose drug-free workplace policies or, for that matter, be required to make exceptions for medical marijuana users under these policies.
Read MoreIn early January, I published my first of several articles to come on Governor J.B. Pritzker uses his clemency authority. I waited to post my article until I was confident that I had all the information about what clemency actions were taken by Gov. Pritzker in 2019. I have since learned I was wrong.
Read MoreIn 2018, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conducted a survey on employer attitudes towards hiring individuals with a criminal record. In its published findings SHRM reported that HR professionals expressed a greater willingness to hire someone with a criminal record. Yet the same survey found that only 32% of those polled had a formal policy facilitating such hiring decisions.
Read MoreWhat can Happen when an Employment Background Check Gets the Facts Wrong. Today, close to 90% of employers check to see if a new employee has a criminal background. Sometimes these reports contain inaccurate information. What you can do to fix this.
Read MoreReducing Barriers to College Admissions For Those Who Have a Criminal Record: There is a huge benefit to educating the incarcerated: they are far less likely to re-offend after being released from prison. How do we reduce barriers to college admissions for those who have a criminal record?
Read MoreToday most college applications include a criminal history question. Only two states, Louisiana and Washington, currently regulate when an institution can ask an applicant whether he/she has a criminal background.
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