July 2024 Newsletter

An Economic Miracle: From $190 Million to $27+ Trillion

As we all celebrated the 4th of July last week one can’t help but wonder how far we’ve come as a nation since our founding. The numbers are amazing: going from $190 million in GDP to over $27 trillion, a population of 3.9 million people to one of over 335 million, and not to mention dramatic improvements in our basic standards of living (it is nice to have airconditioning and fans this time of year). Yes, things aren’t all roses and apple pie but we’ve come so far and I for one believe that the next 25, 50, and 100 years will make our current achievements look small.

Flying cars? 1 billion Americans? A GDP of 900 trillion? Who knows what the future brings but so long as the overall direction is progress our nation will be better and stronger than ever. We’ll do our part at Private Eyes to contribute to the $27 trillion in GDP by continuing to invest in our business & people so that the next 12 months always look better than the last.

Happy belated 4th of July!

As always, please reach out to our team with any questions.

Stay safe and healthy,

Sandra James

Need a background check in California? Changes at the courts are causing long waits

Significant delays in the processing of background checks are causing headaches across California, leaving applications for jobs and housing stuck in limbo while making it harder for employers and landlords to screen for criminal records.

The situation stems from a state appellate court ruling more than three years ago, which industry experts say has blocked background screeners and any court researcher from using date of birth or driver’s license information to narrow down search results as they investigate an individual’s criminal history.

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California Court of Appeal Thwarts Efforts to Conceal Important
Driving History Information from Employers

Employers with operations in California are all too familiar with how state and local officials continue to restrict the access employers have to public records, including criminal history information. For example, lengthy delays in completing standard criminal background checks are now routine in California. Apart from criminal background checks, many employers rely on motor vehicle record checks (MVRs) to vet candidates for positions that require driving as part of the job. In Doe v. California Dept. of Motor Vehicles, the court of appeal rejected the plaintiffs’ efforts to enjoin the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from releasing information about the reason for a driver’s alcohol-impaired driving license suspension (e.g., the driver had an excessive blood-alcohol level) when the driver has not been convicted. Reversing the trial court, the court of appeal held the disclosure of such information does not constitute the disclosure of information about a non-conviction arrest within the meaning of California’s privacy laws. This is a rare “win” for employers in the Golden State.

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You Ask, We Answer!

Q: Can AI lead to biased outcomes when used in the hiring process?

A: Although AI tends to make the hiring process a more objective one, it’s not always perfect. For instance, an AI system may determine that resumes sent in by women should be avoided because past applicants were less likely to be hired or promoted or vice versa. You should be careful to fine-tune tools to ensure that they don’t discriminate against people of color, the disabled or other protected classes. At a minimum, you should be able to explain to candidates how AI is used in the hiring process and what is being done to comply with ethical, legal and other regulations.

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Do you have a question you would like answered? Reach out to us!