Severity Levels are SafeReq's classification system for compliance findings. Each finding is assigned a severity level that indicates the urgency and legal risk, helping you prioritize fixes and understand what must be addressed before posting.
Critical findings are statutory violations that require immediate fixes before posting. High findings should be fixed to avoid legal risk. Medium findings represent best practices you should consider. Low findings are minor quality improvements. Informational findings are FYI only with no action required.
Action-Oriented: Every severity level tells you exactly what to do–from "MUST FIX" to "FYI ONLY." No guessing, no confusion.
MUST FIX BEFORE POSTING
Statutory violations that create immediate legal risk. These findings violate California 2026 laws with active enforcement and penalties.
Legal Risk:
High - Active enforcement, penalties, PAGA exposure
Potential Consequences:
Fines, lawsuits, removal from job boards, regulatory scrutiny
Common Examples:
SHOULD FIX BEFORE POSTING
Strong guidance violations that create elevated legal risk. These findings may violate established employment law or regulatory guidance.
Legal Risk:
Medium-High - Established law, potential enforcement
Potential Consequences:
Regulatory complaints, discrimination claims, reputational damage
Common Examples:
CONSIDER FIXING
Best practice violations that create moderate risk. These findings may confuse applicants or signal potential compliance issues.
Legal Risk:
Medium - Best practices, industry standards
Potential Consequences:
Applicant confusion, reduced candidate quality, minor complaints
Common Examples:
OPTIONAL - NICE TO FIX
Minor improvements that enhance clarity and professionalism. These findings are low-risk but address quality and readability.
Legal Risk:
Low - Quality and clarity improvements
Potential Consequences:
Minor impact on candidate perception
Common Examples:
FYI - NO ACTION REQUIRED
Informational guidance with no legal risk. These findings provide industry benchmarks, tips, or context for reference only.
Legal Risk:
None - Reference only
Potential Consequences:
No consequences, informational only
Common Examples:
Every SafeReq analysis categorizes findings by severity level, so you know exactly what to fix before posting your job requisition.