The “Ban the Box” initiative has been adopted in another area! Have you heard? Waterloo, Iowa recently became the first city in the state to join the movement for “Ban the Box”. They passed an ordinance that says it is “unlawful discriminatory practice” for employers to ask job applicants about criminal records early in the hiring process. The new “Fair Chance Initiative” was reported on by Fox/CBS News, and the 4-3 vote to pass this type of “Ban… [Read More]
Ban the Box update: Washington, D.C. Employers Fined
According to a recent report by the D.C. Office of Human Rights, over $500,000 of fines have been issued to D.C. employers who did not “Ban the Box”. Ban the Box requires employers to remove from their hiring applications the check box that asks if applicants have a criminal record. Ban the Box is steadily being adopted by multiple states, cities and counties. D.C. states that more than 1,800 complaints have been filed since the… [Read More]
Second Chance Hiring
As an employer, do you have a policy of “Second-chance hiring”? This is recruiting and hiring people with criminal backgrounds and eliminating obstacles to those efforts. This concept is gaining momentum among policymakers, as well as business community leaders and employee advocates. Thirty-three states and more than 150 cities and counties require ban-the-box policies for public-sector jobs, and laws in many states and cities requiring private-sector employers to “ban-the-box”- a term that refers to the removal… [Read More]
Ban the Box updates
Nationwide, thus far, 32 states and over 150 cities and counties have adopted what is widely known as “ban the box”. The National Employment Law Project (NELP) states: This is to ensure that Employers consider a job candidate’s qualifications first-without the stigma of a conviction or arrest record. Ban the Box is becoming the ‘norm’ for many areas as it’s persuading employers to remove from their hiring applications the check box that asks if applicants have a criminal record. Employer, Property Management and… [Read More]
Ban the Bucks
As POEknows reported in our Newsletter of April 3, 2017 and in our blog, Click Here to read, cities and states have begun banning employers from asking employment candidates about prior salary history. The State of Massachusetts, has enacted its law. Rhode Island law prohibits employers from requesting an applicant to provide a W-2 tax form, to verify salary history. Philadelphia’s wage history ordinance, which bans salary history questions, goes into effect on May 23, 2017, but is being… [Read More]
Employers: Important Details on Background Screening
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 92 million Americans have a criminal history on file. In the event that employers come across an applicant with a criminal record, it is imperative that these employers are aware of their obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and an ever increasing wave of federal, state and local laws. Experts advise employers to stay current with the state and federal regulations that govern the use of… [Read More]