CUSTOMER RESOURCES

Denver Metropolitan Area

The Denver metropolitan area is Colorado’s largest metropolitan area and is among the fastest-growing metros in the nation. The region’s current population of about 2.8 million represents growth of more than 10% since the end of the last census in 2010. Six counties make up this core urbanized area: Arapahoe, Jefferson, Adams, Douglas, and the cities and counties of Denver and Broomfield. Though Denver is the largest of the cities in the region, it is joined by other major population centers such as Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, and Littleton. As the biggest metropolitan zone in Colorado, the Denver area is a regional hub for business. While some of the region maintains industrial roots, commercial development has flourished. Businesses headquartering themselves in Denver include Quizno’s, RE/MAX, and Frontier Airlines. Nearby Broomfield is home to famous manufacturers such as Ball Aerospace. The metro region’s combination of diversity of economic opportunity and expansive yet interconnected counties yields a very active workforce.

Buffalo-Niagara Falls Metropolitan Area

Located close to the Canadian border in western New York, the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro area contains only two counties, Niagara and Erie, but a population of approximately 1.1 million. An area undergoing a slow economic revitalization, the Buffalo metro area has an economy that is largely dependent on tourism and government work with some heavier industries still in operation. Notable regional employers include M&T Bank, Kaleida Health, and the University of Buffalo. Affordable housing makes this metro area a popular destination for those from nearby communities. With new residents arriving frequently and a rebounding economy in progress, businesses throughout the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro can access a continually-refreshed pool of talent during hiring.

New York-Newark-Jersey City Metropolitan Area

The New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area has many names. Most commonly, it is simply referred to as the New York metro. In other cases, it is called the Tri-State Area. This name comes from the fact that the state of New York, including New Jersey and Connecticut, forms part of this group. Some definitions incorporate parts of Pennsylvania. According to the US Census Bureau, the Tri-State Area comprises 27 counties across four states. It is one of the most populous metros in the United States. This central metro area includes some of the biggest cities in these states, such as the boroughs of New York City, Newark, and Jersey City. Other notable cities include New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford. Employers hiring in the New York metropolitan area face a complex environment with many competing demands. Successful hiring in these areas requires a broad point of view rather than a narrow focus. Many job opportunities in the city, and Wall Street, in particular, attract countless employees.

Cincinnati Metropolitan Area

Also known as Greater Cincinnati, this metro area includes counties in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Its population of nearly 2.3 million makes it the largest metro area in Ohio. It has a significant economic and social presence in Kentucky and Indiana. Nearby metro areas include Columbus and Indianapolis. Together, these three metros comprise the Great Lakes Region. Spanning such a wide area, background checks in the Cincinnati metropolitan area demand more care and attention. To explore the reason for this, we must first consider the full extent of the area. Constituent counties in Ohio include: Brown Butler Clermont Hamilton Warren Counties in Indiana include: Dearborn Franklin Ohio Meanwhile, the metro region also includes counties in Kentucky such as: Boone Bracken Campbell Gallatin Grant Kenton A background check process must factor in the size of the area. With so many people spread over such a wide area, small businesses may be more likely to encounter people from farther away, even in Cincinnati. That fact points to the heart of the issue. Why should you have a metro-specific background check policy?

Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area

Centered around Oklahoma’s capital and a historically-significant crossroads, the Oklahoma City metropolitan area forms a tight cluster of communities in the middle of the state. Often simply dubbed “The Metro” by locals, the area’s population of about 1.4 million occupies seven counties. These include Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, and Oklahoma County.

Greater Orlando

The Orlando metropolitan region, also called Greater Orlando, contains only four counties but boasts a dense urban population of approximately 2.4 million. Comprised of Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, the Greater Orlando region is central Florida’s largest contiguous urban area. Aside from the eponymous city, Greater Orlando is also home to major communities in the cities of Kissimmee, Sanford, Apopka, and Clermont. Known worldwide as a major tourist destination, the Orlando metro area is best known for being home to theme parks such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando. Far from being home only to the tourism sector, the Orlando area has a robust economy and serves as an anchor for several other major businesses. These include Minute Maid, Lockheed Martin, and AAA.

Salt Lake City Metropolitan Area

Clustered around Utah’s capital city in the north-central portion of the state, the Salt Lake City metropolitan area contains only two counties, Salt Lake and Tooele, yet boasts a population of nearly 1.1 million—and that number is growing steadily. Once a major crossroads for raw materials, the Salt Lake City metro’s modern economy focuses on tourism, transportation, and customer service-oriented endeavors such as call centers. Notable regional employers include Delta Airlines, Overstock.com, and Sinclair Oil.

Dollar General Reaches Settlement with the EEOC in Years-Long Background Check Bias Suit

Higher Education Tries to Move "Beyond the Box"

It's no secret that a steep road lies ahead for individuals seeking to re-enter society after a period of incarceration. While the focus often falls on removing barriers to employment to promote reintegration, there are other roadblocks that can make moving forward an even bigger challenge.

Should You Drug Test or Background Check First?

What Comes First: The Background Check or the Drug Test? Background checks for employment usually include a criminal record check, verification of resume data, and reference checks. Many employers also do a pre-employment drug test on new employees to confirm sober habits to responsibly manage potentially dangerous work – such as operating heavy machinery – or maintain a drug-free workplace policy. However, what comes first? The criminal background check or the drug test?

Columbia, South Carolina Limits Inquiries About Applicants’ Criminal and Salary Histories

Could Dating Apps Do More to Vet Their Users?

Once confined to websites accessed from home computers, online dating has gone mobile. Dating apps dominate the social scene with tens of millions of active users each month choosing services such as Tinder and OkCupid. Despite their popularity and their status as a pop culture fixture, there are potential downsides to using these apps that the average user does not consider. A 2019 report by the investigative journalists at ProPublica has exposed the limitations and gaps in the safety screening processes that are currently in use by Match Group, the owner of Tinder, OkCupid, and other dating platforms.

Are Ridesharing Services Becoming Safer?

Ridesharing services Uber and Lyft have come under fire for not doing enough to prevent rapes and sexual assaults at the hands of their drivers. Critics of the companies have suggested more in-depth background checks and stronger policies for disciplinary and investigative action in response to impropriety. While the companies have taken steps to respond to these criticisms—last year, for instance, Uber implemented an ongoing criminal monitoring policy for its drivers—questions remain regarding whether the services are becoming any safer.

Pre-Employment Background Check: What Shows Up?

The employment background check is a standard part of most hiring processes. According to an HR.com survey, 95 percent of employers conduct “some type of employment background screening.” Eighty-six percent vet all full-time employees and 68 percent screen all part-time hires. What these statistics show is that if you are applying for a new position, you can expect to go through a pre-employment background check. What does this background check entail?

The Gilberg Decision: What a Recent Court Case Reminds Us about the FCRA

Background check lawsuits have increased in number over the past ten years. According to CBS News, background check companies and employers have paid more than $325 million to settle litigation related to background screening policies. Major companies such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Uber have found themselves the defendants in these cases along with many other employers. Most of those lawsuits have involved breaches in FCRA compliance. In most cases, employers didn’t willfully violate the federal act but instead made careless mistakes that opened them up to legal action.