Spotlight: Our Decision Matrix

Our Decision Matrix is an educational and customizable tool created by CI to guide our clients and help them make compliant hiring decisions when faced with adverse information on a background investigation. It helps avoid discrimination and avoids using an employment policy or practice that excludes people with certain criminal convictions. The Decision Matrix helps employers with an individual assessment of each candidate.

Individual assessments are important because it creates consistency and leads to non-discriminatory practices. By merging Article 23-A and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Guidance, the Decision Matrix was “given a face lift,” Michelle Pyan, President of Commercial Investigations LLC, stated in our latest webinar when talking about our Decision Matrix. Article 23-A, New York Corrections Law, helps protect those who have been previously convicted of any crimes by making sure there is no unfair discrimination from an employer. EEOC Guidance is enforcement guidance on the consideration of arrest and conviction records in employment decisions under the Civil Rights Act, focusing on discrimination.

Our tool provides diversity, inclusion, and equality. So you might ask, “Where can I find CI’s Decision Matrix?” Our Decision Matrix is a downloadable spreadsheet which can be found in our software, CIware. Our template has columns of individualized questions regarding the subject at hand and their adverse information, while being able to keep the subject confidential. This useful tool also helps employers track their decisions and refer back those decisions for future needs.