RALEIGH, NC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 12/20/05 -- The HR-XML Consortium announced today the formation of an initiative to deliver a web services (WS) profile for background checks and other employment screenings. HR-XML's WS profile for screening will build upon the Consortium's existing Background Checking specification, which enjoys significant support among leading employment screening providers.

Employment screening service providers will be able to leverage HR-XML's WS for screening for easier, less expensive integration with channel partners, such as applicant tracking systems. The profile's web services security guidance also will provide screening service providers best practices with respect to advanced message-level security options, including XML encryption and XML digital signature. The profile will benefit applicant tracking and other HR solutions by giving them a ready-to-use template for adding new screening providers as well as adding or extending search types in response to customer requirements.

Employers that use service providers conformant with the profile will have more flexibility in integrating background checks and screening services into their hiring and risk-management processes. Employers also will benefit from the management reporting operations built into the profile.

The profile package will include: re-drafted XML schemas that are more modular and transactionally oriented than the existing HR-XML Background Check package; models of both synchronous and asynchronous processing patterns; Web Services Definition Language supporting screening order, status, result, management reporting, and other common screening order operations; WS security guidance; reference examples; and documentation for the aforementioned profile components.

HR-XML's WS screening profile initiative is intended to provide special rewards for those who participate. HR-XML's background check and screening schemas (and forthcoming WSDL) will remain freely available to members and non-members. However, access to the complete web services profile documentation will be a members-only benefit.

The target date for the delivery of the profile is June 2006. A first meeting of the HR-XML WS profile team is scheduled for Feb. 2-3 at the HR-XML Consortium's La Jolla meeting. For HR-XML membership options and for information about the upcoming La Jolla meeting, visit http://www.hr-xml.org/meetings/lajolla/

About HR-XML

HR-XML (http://www.hr-xml.org) is an independent, non-profit consortium dedicated to enabling e-commerce and inter-company exchange of human resources data worldwide. The work of the Consortium centers on the development and promotion of standardized XML vocabularies for HR. HR-XML's current efforts are focused on standards for assessments, staffing and recruiting, metrics, compensation and benefits, training and work force management. HR-XML is represented by its membership in 22 countries, and in Europe through its affiliate organization, HR-XML Consortium Europe (http://eu.hr-xml.org), and in Japan by HR-XML Consortium Japan (http://www.hr-xml-jp.org).

Learn more about HR-XML at its upcoming meeting in La Jolla, Calif., Feb. 2-3. For more information, visit: http://www.hr-xml.org/meetings/lajolla/

For more information, contact:
Chuck Allen
Director
HR-XML Consortium, Inc.
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