PBSA

PBSA Journal PAGE 17 JAN/FEB 2025 Except where otherwise indicated, articles are copyright © by PBSA 2025. All rights reserved. A wrong hire can ripple through an organization, eroding the culture that leaders work tirelessly to build. A single instance of workplace misconduct with organizational values can compromise employee morale and tarnish the company's reputation. In 2018, Wells Fargo faced severe criticism. It was revealed that a senior executive had been hired despite a prior history of unethical sales practices. This oversight intensified public scrutiny during a period when the organization was already under investigation for consumer fraud. The fallout not only damaged the trust of stakeholders but also led to financial penalties coupled with declined employee morale. The Strategic Edge of Comprehensive Background Checks We live in times when decisions have to be made in minutes, and having access to reliable and detailed information about potential hires can mean the difference between mediocrity and excellence., We've seen firsthand how comprehensive background checks provide businesses with the strategic edge they need to succeed. Advanced background checks, powered by cutting-edge technology like AI and global databases, offer insights that go beyond surface-level information. AI background tools and blockchain technology uncover critical details including employment verification, education history, and even cross- border criminal records, something traditional methods might miss. I recall a global client who once nearly hired a candidate with an impressive resume but a disqualifying legal issue abroad. A robust screening process flagged this discrepancy, saving them from a potential reputational and financial disaster. Isn't this exactly what organizations look for while hiring? An Investment in the Future There is no question that every hiring decision carries the weight of shaping an organization's direction. Our team of experts believes that a great hire isn't just about a candidate's output, but it's about who they are and how they align with the company's vision. To provide businesses with reliable, comprehensive background checks that don't just meet expectations but set a new standard for informed hiring should be the commitment. l Taha Kisat is CEO at Tech Exons, the parent company of Check Xperts, a leading provider of B2B employment background screening services based in Pakistan. Beyond the Resume: How Background Checks Reveal the Unseen Truths About Job Applicants Continued from page 16 NOV/DEC 2023 The Top 10 11 Things I've Learned Working with PBSA By Michelle Leblond, PBSA Director of Operations T op 10 lists are so basic and I like to be a little "extra" (as the kids say), so here are the top 11 things I've learned since I began working with PBSA. For reference, in August of this year, I joined the PBSA team as a contractor after spending almost 28 years working with three different Consumer Reporting Agencies and managing screening operations in both Canada and the U.S. During the last 12 years or so, I have been a pretty active volunteer with PBSA working from the Committee to the Council Leadership and Board levels. During that time, I have gained a good idea of what happens "behind the curtain." I knew there are lots of steps and tasks happening that members rarely think about and yet, within these first months, I was surprised, and pleasantly so, at just how much is happening for our members and for our Association. Below is a list of some of the things I have learned, in no particular order: Council Efforts Are Booming! I have always worked closely with the Canada Council and had a pretty good understanding of the work the U.S. Council did, but in the last two months I've really had the chance to engage with our remaining two Councils in APAC and Europe. I can confidently say our Councils are booming. They are coming up with creative ideas, solid member resources, holding engaging and well-attended Annual General Meetings or Conferences, and doing their part to move our strategic plan forward. This is perhaps the most notable proof that we are indeed delivering on our vision to be the trusted global authority for the screening profession. Our Board Is Strong and Strategic. Creating, working and reporting on a strategic plan is one of the most important tasks our Board of Directors can undertake. Having been around the Board for the last 10 years, I can say the strategic planning process is deliberate, detailed and hard. Very hard. Ideas are great but being able to execute, prioritize and carry through on them, in a primarily volunteer-based organization, can be challenging. Our current Board is not only strong in its composition, but has done an amazing job on our 2022-25 Strategic Plan. I shouldn't really count this as a surprise because Past Chair Scott Maloney, our first Chair from the Associate Member category, is exactly the kind of fellow who would set up our current Chair Chad Ascar to be successful. I am personally excited to be part of delivering on many of the tasks that will move our Association forward and am thrilled with the volunteers and other members who are also working on tasks. If you haven't seen the latest version of PBSA's Strategic Plan, it can be found here. Being busy is a good thing, but knowing we are busy on the right things - well, that is even better! We Proofread A Lot! I'm using my English degree for written work as I've never done before. My Dad would be so proud of me for finally posting a return on that (education) investment. The point is, we review and proofread everything – Thursday Letters, Member Advisories, IN THIS ISSUE The Top 11 Things I've Learned Working with PBSA 1 CFPB Advances Far Reach Rulemaking Under FCRA 6 Top 3 U.S. State Legislative Issues in 2024 10 Enhancing Consistency and Communication Standards 13 Better Know a Provider – U.S. 15 Affinity Program Highlight: SeyfarthLean Consulting 18 Misplaced Focus on Impairment Creates Risk 19 PBSA Accredited Companies 21 Mission, Comments & Article Submission 22 Except where otherwise indicated, articles are copyright © by PBSA 2023. All rights reserved. JOURNAL Continued on page 3 PAGE 1 Advertise in the PBSA Journal Looking for an opportunity to present your products and services to an engaged audience? The PBSA Journal e-magazine is distributed 6 times per year to the full PBSA member contact list of over 7,000 background screening professionals. View the 2025 ADVERTISING MEDIA KIT for full details. SEPT/OCT 2023 Twenty Years By PBSA Chair Chad Ascar T wenty years! Yes, our wonderful Association turned twenty at our Annual Conference in Grapevine, Texas, U.S.A. It was definitely a highlight for PBSA. Thank you to all sponsors, exhibitors, attendees, contracted partners, and other invited guests for making it a wonderful celebration. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to PBSA reaching this milestone. We salute you for your efforts and are grateful for sharing your time, talent and energy as the Association continues to grow. Our Association was created on the premise that as an industry there is strength in numbers and that we needed to abide by a set of common rules for the health and longevity of the industry. From that initial idea, the Association was founded in 2003. We've done a great deal since that time. We originally operated in one country, the U.S.A., and now we have members in countries around the globe with growth continuing every year. The Association currently boasts almost 800 member companies. There are now four Councils that have truly propelled the Association into a global force – APAC, Canada, Europe and the US Council. In 2023, we expanded to five conferences across the world and we are currently exploring additional in person opportunities for our members to connect, learn from, and work with one another. Accreditation standards are now in place across the globe through two separate Standards. In the early years, the financial health of the Association was precarious. Thanks to the fiscal discipline of prior Boards and the Finance Committee, we now have reserves to cover over 1.5 years of operating expenses. We are exceeding the goal of maintaining reserves of no less than one year of our annual operating budget. We have a good story to tell and should be proud to tell it. Yes, we have challenges to overcome. In the U.S., the continued threat of litigation remains, regulatory action is a specter, and laws are being passed making it more difficult to screen effectively. APAC has the challenge of spanning multiple countries, each with unique screening needs, languages and governmental regimes. Europe continues to grow and add content while looking for ways to expand in countries outside of the United Kingdom. Canada is always looking for more engaged volunteers and keeps a close eye on the US for trends and "novel" threats to the industry. Universally, we are always looking for likeminded stakeholders, regulators, and legislators to seek out PBSA as a valuable resource and partner. We have the ability to take these challenges and turn them into opportunities. Sharing information and expertise between Councils will be a key IN THIS ISSUE Twenty Years 1 EEOC Settlement Over Recruiting Software 4 Public Records Access Update 6 Better Know a Provider 11 Best Practices for Cybersecurity Awareness Month 13 M&A Considerations in the Background Screening Industry 15 Thank You, Sponsors & Exhibitors 18 PBSA Accredited Companies 19 Mission, Comments & Article Submission 20 Except where otherwise indicated, articles are copyright © by PBSA 2023. All rights reserved. JOURNAL Continued on page 3 PAGE 1 We originally operated in one country, the U.S.A., and now we have members in countries around the globe with growth continuing every year. JAN/FEB 2024 Charting the Future: A New Year's Journey with PBSA — Reflections, Renewed Passion and the Road Ahead By Katie Hartley, PBSA Secretary/Treasurer L ike many others, it's around this time on the calendar when I pause to reflect on the past year, thankful for the gifts and challenges it brought in both my personal and professional life. It's also a time when I look to the coming year, filled with curiosity, hope and excitement. As I move into 2024, one area I'm most thankful for and most thrilled about is my involvement with PBSA. But before I talk about where the Association is going, walk with me down memory lane as I regale you of my journey with PBSA that began many years ago. When I began my career in public relations for a leading background screening organization, I wanted to find a way to give back to my professional community as well as network and learn from those more seasoned in the field. I joined PBSA, formerly NAPBS, and found a fascinating group of knowledgeable, respected professionals. I quickly jumped in, becoming the chair of what was then the Communications Committee. The Association was a small but energetic group, thriving on the passion its volunteers brought to the field. I very much enjoyed networking and learning from the leaders and peers I met at every conference and on every committee call. This group and the relationships formed were an instrumental influence on me and I'm certain they helped shape the trajectory of my career. Fast forward to 2015 when I joined the PBSA Board of Directors for a one-year term. Then later I joined the Advocacy Committee, which I am still very actively a part of, before rejoining the current PBSA Board of Directors to proudly serve as your current Secretary/Treasurer. In my nearly 20 years of involvement, I've witnessed significant changes and growth. We've rebranded. We've gone global with the addition of Canada, Europe, APAC and U.S. Councils. We've advocated on behalf of our industry to educate regulators and lawmakers alike to protect the rights of the consumers, employers and landlords. We've done all this through the efforts of our volunteers, lobbying partners and industry experts around the globe. There are many satisfying aspects of my involvement with PBSA, but what excites me most is welcoming new volunteers in the Association. No matter their years of IN THIS ISSUE Charting the Future 1 A Flurry of U.S. Legislative Activity 4 The True Cost of Manual Verifications 6 The Importance of a WISP 9 CFPB Issues Two FCRA Focused Advisory Opinions 13 Better Know a Provider – United States 15 PBSA Accredited Companies 17 Mission, Comments & Article Submission 18 Except where otherwise indicated, articles are copyright © by PBSA 2024. All rights reserved. JOURNAL Continued on page 3 PAGE 1 No matter their years of experience, their title or their tenure at their current organization, new volunteers come to PBSA curious and passionate, ready to learn, contribute and be part of a group that makes a real difference in the industry.

• Cover