St. Louis County Enacts “Ban The Box”

Currently, more than 150 cities and counties nationwide as well as 32 states have passed ban-the-box legislation, delaying questions about the criminal records of job applicants until later in the hiring process. Of those states, eleven have required the removal of criminal history questions from job applications for private employers. On June 11, St. Louis…

WA State Ban the Box

Effective today, June 7, 2018, Washington joins a growing list of states and cities implementing “ban the box” legislation restricting employers from inquiring about a job applicant’s criminal background during the initial stages of the application process. Governor Jay Inslee signed into law the Washington Fair Chance Act (WFCA) on March 13, 2018, prohibiting inquiries…

Two Large Employers Settle Class Action Suits Alleging Violation of FCRA’s “Stand Alone” Requirement

Two large companies have recently agreed to pay out millions of dollars in a settlement over class action lawsuits for alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s authorization and disclosure requirements. Frito-Lay Inc. has agreed to pay $2.4 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it violated the FCRA in its use of…

Ban the Box

On October 14, 2017, Assembly Bill 1008 (AB 1008) was signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown.  This new “Ban the Box” legislation (the “box” refers to the section on job applications that candidates check if they have a criminal record) is an added section to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) restricting the ability of California employers with 5 or more employees to make pre-hire and personnel decisions based on an individual’s criminal history.

EEOC ISSUES PUBLICATIONS ON RIGHTS OF JOB APPLICANTS, EMPLOYEES WITH HIV

“The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today issued two documents addressing workplace rights for individuals with HIV infection under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), including the right to be free from employment discrimination and harassment, and the right to reasonable accommodations in the workplace. The White House has issued a (Archived) National…

OBAMA SUPPORTS “BAN THE BOX” FOR FEDERAL JOB APPLICATIONS

“President Obama said Monday he was directing federal agencies to “ban the box” in their hiring decisions, prohibiting them from asking prospective government employees about their criminal histories on job applications. Speaking at Rutgers University in Newark, N.J., where he highlighted programs meant to ease the reentry of former inmates into society, Obama said the federal government “should not use criminal…

EEOC GOES HOLLYWOOD: COMMISSION TO PROBE GENDER DISCRIMINATION AGAINST FEMALE DIRECTORS

“Several women directors say that they have received notices from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission asking to set up interviews in an apparent start to an investigation over gender discrimination in Hollywood. According to a copy of the letter obtained by Variety, the EEOC is asking directors to speak with them so that “we may learn…

CALIFORNIA ACTS TO OUTLAW PRE-EMPLOYMENT MANDATORY AGREEMENTS TO ARBITRATE LABOR CODE CLAIMS

“In late August, the California Senate and Assembly passed AB 465, which, if signed by Governor Jerry Brown, will make pre-employment mandatory agreements to arbitrate Labor Code violations against California public policy starting January 1, 2016. AB 465 would create a new statute that prohibits employers from requiring a candidate to “waive any legal right, penalty,…

BMW SETTLES EEOC CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SUIT FOR 1.6 MILLION

“BMW Manufacturing Co. L.L.C. will pay $1.6 million to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit that charged it was liable for race discrimination in connection with its former criminal background checks policy, which allegedly disproportionately affected African-Americans, the agency said Tuesday. The 2013 lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Spartanburg, North Carolina,…