This year’s holiday party has gone virtual. Sticking with our tradition as much as we can, we were still able to do our gift exchange, but this year, it was more secretive. Usually we play our game of ‘white elephant’ but since that was not realistic; we chose our new game of “Secret Gift Exchange.”

Have you ever shopped on Amazon? You can buy books, medicines, music, and diplomas! DIPLOMAS?! Yes, indeed. Anyone without an actual diploma can purchase one on Amazon (or a number of other sites, google it!). One satisfied customer said, “My son got the job he wanted. It looks so real.”

Duey had been in a mood for weeks. Ever since his disastrous proposal to Prue, and later finding that she had hired a private investigator to investigate his parents, well, needless to say he was in a very bad mood. Prue had learned everything about Due and Coco’s nefarious backgrounds.

As Commercial Investigations has been working remotely this year, we decided in August it was time to hire! That’s right, hiring during a pandemic! It was certainly a challenge but we think we found some really awesome team members.

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.

On a gorgeous, late summer day, Yvette sits at her desk at home, getting ready for the next session of the annual Professional Background Screening Association conference. Ding dong. At the door stood Guardian, bags packed.

Sue opened up her laptop, while sipping her hot, strong, fresh coffee. It was her third cup that morning. She realized and frowned to herself. She was drinking a lot more coffee than she had been prior to working remotely.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic we found ourselves with a little more time on our hands. So, we thought about ways to add value for our clients and future clients. Thus, CI Leading the Way was born, and we developed a number of recorded webinars that have provided some really great content.

A search of the Sex Offender Registry can be conducted at a national level and at the state level. Most clients ask to have both searches included in their background investigation package to ensure they are getting all available levels of sex offenders so that they are not hiring an individual who may cause harm to someone else.

Guardian soared through the sky, enjoying the mountains and beautiful views, after his long adventure of saving The Catskill Center from the devious Clement Bard. Guardian was feeling satisfied with himself. He did not let Clement Bard succeed, yet again.

Prue’s mouth fell open in a comical “O.” Duey sat there feeling more foolish at her silence. Heat was creeping up his cheeks in a blush of mortification.

As you may know, each year Commercial Investigations LLC has a team building, half day event where we spend quality time together, enjoying a variety of activities. This year was different, as we were not able to physically be in each other’s company.

The Turret of Truth is the home of the call center here at Commercial Investigations LLC. Our turret is where a majority of our staff works diligently to provide the superior customer service to all those we make contact with on a daily basis, five days a week.

Guardian must get to The Catskill Center before it is too late. Guardian saw Ana, reviewing the investigation compiled by the team.

How would the business’ bills be paid, and what would she do herself for her own finances, or Justin, and Duey for that matter? What would happen to them? At that moment, Justin walked in and asked Sue if she saw the news. Nodding in silent acquiescence, Sue looked back to the desktop picture feeling completely forlorn.

Background investigations and compliance seem to embody some "curious paradoxes." Legal experts and industry presenters at the Professional Background Screening Association iterated one such paradox at the 2019 Annual Conference, by consistently echoing the two opposing mantras, "Avoid litigation, and Automate," and "Human intervention is key to avoid litigation." Well, which is it?

CI’s Drug Test inquiry is an effective and necessary component of a thorough background investigation. CI has access to over 12,000 drug testing labs throughout the US. If your organization would like to establish a drug testing policy, contact CI to help you implement a program that is consistent, compliant, effective and affordable.

In August the CI staff sold Ducks to benefit the Capital District Sponsor-A-Scholar Rubber Duck Derby. Our staff set a goal to sell 250 ducks and we are proud to say that we exceeded that goal and sold a total of 323 ducks … the most of any team!

Due was relieved to discover he completed enough community service hours for the contract for another year despite being let go from Clean Disaster Relief.

Our clients know that CI is the most innovative and educational background investigations partner. But, do they know that we are also the only background investigative agency in New York State to have criminal data typically only available to the law enforcement world? Well we do … and Cursory Indicator New York (CI NY) is that data.