Handcuff Headlines

DallasNews.com recently reported on the rates of positive drug test results among Texas workers, and the news wasn’t great. Overall, about 4.7 percent of Texas workers included in the sample group tested positive for drugs—a number higher than the national rate of 4.2 percent.

A trucking-industry lobbying group says that Department of Transportation’s pre-employment drug test protocols are missing most lifestyle drug users and opioid addicts, endangering motorists. They’re pushing Congress to tighten testing protocols.

The NFL’s Detroit Lions are dealing with the fallout after a 22-year-old indictment of Head Coach Matt Patricia for sexual assault surfaced following his hiring.

Large corporations continued the trend of settling claims of FCRA violations for millions of dollars in recent days when Frito-Lay paid $2.4 million to make a class-action suit alleging improper background check disclosure forms.

One of the nation’s largest pet retailers agreed to a large settlement with job applicants last week after failing to properly disclose its background check policy.

An ex-con Uber driver faces charges that he raped an intoxicated passenger, and now the City of Houston is threatening to boot the ride-sharing company out of town.

For many employers and HR workers, it’s just too tempting. How can you not take a peek at a job candidate’s social media feeds, especially if you’re hiring this person for an important or sensitive position?

Tough conversations with employees are one of the most uncomfortable parts of being an employer. To add to our stress, they can also sometimes open businesses up to unexpected liability. Nevertheless, these conversations are unavoidable and must happen in order for an organization to grow.

Kush. K2. Spice. Fake weed. Synthetic cannabinoids go by many names, but whatever you call them, they’re becoming a big headache for employers.

Many employers are understandably hesitant to institute random employee drug screenings even though most have the right to do so. The reasons behind the hesitation are simple: Random drug screening costs money, and it’s a hassle that both employees and most employers would prefer to get by without.

As the weather turns warm and pleasant and thoughts begin to shift toward summer vacation ideas, the rate of employee absenteeism inevitably creeps up this time of year.

One of America’s largest retailers paid millions in a settlement this month after a class-action suit alleged unfair hiring practices, and a federal agency opened itself up to a suit by skipping background checks for thousands of employees. Here are the top employment headlines this week: