Classes Help Employers Exercise Safe Hiring Practices that Mitigate Risks, Strengthen Businesses

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Professionals responsible for recruitment and selection in organizations will discover safe hiring practices that can mitigate hiring risks and strengthen the workplace through two workshops offered by the Global Campus in Rogers in October.

Shelia Moss, owner of Information Solutions and a national corporate trainer, will teach both classes. Registration is available at globalcampus.uark.edu, and the cost is $49 per class.

• “Safe Hiring 1: Darned if You Do; Darned if You Don’t: When is a Background Check Appropriate” will be offered from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Participants will learn how criminal record information is compiled nationally, the types of personal background information that can be used in recruitment, avoidance of potentially discriminatory actions, and the appropriate use of the Fair Credit Reporting Act regulations.

• “Safe Hiring 2: Ensuring the ‘Safe’ in the Safe Hiring Audit” is set for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8.

Safe hiring practices are imperative when addressing the liability of adding new personalities to a workforce. Communicating compliance procedures to the rest of the company and implementing a safe hiring program is step one. Continued audit of the legitimacy of and adherence to the program is necessary. A safe hiring program should be implemented as part of an organization’s strategic plan. Participants will learn how to assess their companies’ needs, develop and implement a safe hiring program, and train all levels of management in the use of employment background screening.

These classes are the latest additions to a list of programs and workshops offered by the Global Campus professional development network. Information about other classes is available on the website. Contact Judith Tavano, director of professional development programs, at jtavano@uark.edu for information or to schedule customized training sessions.

Moss travels across the nation each year to train professionals in public and private corporations in areas of human resource compliance. She spoke at the Arkansas Society for Human Resource Management conferences in 2009 and 2013. Moss and her consulting group have a record of success in directing employment eligibility compliance programs.

The Global Campus supports professional, online and distance education offered by the University of Arkansas. The Global Campus professional development office recently moved to Rogers to provide professionals across Northwest Arkansas with more convenient access to educational opportunities.