Yesterday, we looked at the rules regarding consumer reports in California. Today: the rules that apply if you conduct your background checks yourself. We’ll also tell you about a detailed recordkeeping resource, specifically for California employers, you won’t want to be without.
Go It Alone?
You may want to consider conducting background investigations with your own resources rather than hiring someone else to do it. Employers that do not use the services of a credit reporting agency are not subject to the FCRA’s requirements [click here for more on these requirements, covered yesterday].
However, if you conduct your own background investigation without a credit reporting agency’s assistance, you’re subject to California’s equivalent of the FCRA, the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (ICRAA).
The Complete Guide to HR Recordkeeping in California—get your copy today!
ICRAA Applies To Written and Oral Consumer Reports, Public Records
The ICRAA also applies to California employers that obtain consumer reports or public records in written or oral form.
Like the FCRA, the ICRAA has no specific recordkeeping requirements. Given that the information likely to be obtained is similar to that protected by the FCRA, you’re advised to keep all background check information on file for at least five years.
Records Management: A Key HR Responsibility.
As the branch of business most concerned with people and the minute details of their work life, HR needs to be at the forefront of records management. You need to understand the issues and rules, what to hang onto, and for how long.
But where can you find out what you need to know?.
The Complete Guide to HR Recordkeeping in California is 106 info-packed pages of everything you need to know to stay compliant (and sane) in the HR recordkeeping arena.
You’ll learn everything you need to know about what to hang onto, and for how long, under both California and federal law … which records can be stored electronically … how to ensure the security of your records … tips for proper records disposal … what to do if you find yourself facing a records subpoena … how to avoid common recordkeeping mistakes … and much, much more!
The report includes chapters on:
- Personnel and Payroll Records
- Safety Records and Workers’ Comp Documents
- Family and Medical Leave Records
- HR-Related Tax Records
- Pension Plans and Health Insurance Benefits
- Polygraph Exams
- Rights of California Employees to Access Records
- Effective Methods for Compiling and Managing HR Records
- Electronic Records
- Penalties and Consequences for Failing to Comply with Recordkeeping Requirements
- 8 Rules for Securing Records
- Avoiding Common Recordkeeping Mistakes
- 8 Steps to Properly Respond to a Subpoena
- Preparing and Reviewing Records for Litigation
We’ve also included 7 easy reference charts throughout the report, so you can quickly find the answers you’re looking for at a glance. It’s California HR recordkeeping made easy.
Best of all, we’ll send you a brand-new edition each year so you always have the most up-to-date information available. Don’t delay—order today and get the recordkeeping monkey off your back once and for all.
Download your free copy of Questions To Ask In An Interview: Interview Questions for Employers today!