Ban-the Box Update (August 2014)

Many cities and states are adopting or expanding "Ban the Box" regulations. Here is the latest.

San Francisco

                Today, August 13^th, San Francisco’s Fair Ordinance goes into effect. They certainly are not the first to enact what many are calling “Ban the Box” legislation. This ordinance applies to both the public and private sector. San Francisco employers need to ensure they are up to code on their background screening.

Illinois

                Another change employers should be aware of is Illinois’ expanded “ban the box” legislation that now includes private employers. This makes Illinois the fifth state in the nation to require both public and private employers to limit inquiry about convictions. The other states are Minnesota, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Illinois is calling their “Ban the Box” legislation the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act. It takes effect on January 1, 2015. 

New Jersey

                Governor Chris Christie signed the Opportunity to Compete Act on August 11^th. This law expands New Jersey’s “Ban the Box” regulations to the private sector, much like Illinois’ Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act. It is set to take effect on March 1, 2015. This makes New Jersey the 13^th state to adopt “Band the Box” legislation, and the 6^th state to expand the regulations to the private sector.

“Ban the Box” legislation is spreading like wildfire. As a background screening provider, the only thing we can do is keep you updated on the latest employment screening standards.

While S2Verify cannot provide legal advice, we can suggest you discuss with counsel, the following guidelines:

•          Do not ask about arrests that did not lead to a conviction

•          Do not ask about an individual’s conviction history at the beginning of the hiring process (such as the application)

•          Only after a conditional offer has been made can one ask about criminal history

•          Only convictions related to the job can be considered in the decision to deny employment

Newark (NJ) Ordinance "Bans the Box" and Significantly Restricts the Use of Criminal History Information in Employment

The City of Newark, New Jersey recently passed an ordinance that will significantly impact employers’ and other entities’ ability to conduct criminal background checks or even ask about a candidate’s criminal background. The ordinance limits both when and the extent to which employers may ask about or use criminal history in employment. Newark’s ordinance12-1630, entitled “Ordinance To Assist The Successful Reintegration Of Formerly Incarcerated People Into The Community By Removing Barriers To Gainful Employment And Stable Housing After Their Release From Prison; And To Enhance The Health And Security Of The Community By Assisting People With Criminal Convictions On Reintegration Into The Community And Providing For Their Families,” goes into effect on November 18, 2012.

Newark’s ordinance is the latest example of a series of efforts at the federal, state and local level aimed at curtailing employers’ ability to use criminal history information in employment. At the federal level, employers should be aware of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) April 25, 2012 Guidance on the Use of Arrest and Convictions (the Guidance) which sets forth practices employers may want to consider so as not to be a target of the EEOC. Similarly, a number of states have pending legislation seeking to follow the EEOC’s lead. This, in addition to other states which have already regulated this area.

Who is Covered Under Newark’s Ordinance

Newark’s ordinance is only applicable when the “the physical location of the prospective employment [is] in whole or substantial part, within the City of Newark.” In that sense, it is of limited local application. Importantly, the term “employer” is defined as “any person, company, corporation, firm, labor organization, or association, which has five (5) or more employees and does business, employs persons, or takes applications for employment within the city of Newark…”

“Employment” is defined more broadly, however, as “any occupation, vocation, job, work or employment with or without pay, including temporary or seasonal work, contracted work, contingent work, and work through the services of a temporary or other employment agency, or any form of vocational or educational training with or without pay.” (emphasis added).
These definitions suggest that the prohibitions contained in the ordinance, as well as the affirmative obligations it imposes, may apply with equal force when an employer is seeking volunteers, students, or independent contractors as opposed to solely employees.

As always, we suggest you consult with your own counsel regarding this matter, however feel free to contact us for further information.