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Monday HR Minute
02/06/17

Ban the What?

Lots of talk about “banning” going on lately.  But today we want to focus on “ban-the-box” laws, which are becoming increasingly relevant in the world of pre-employment background checks.  These laws are currently applicable to some degree in 24 states and 150 individual cities, often applying to public employees but rapidly spreading to the private sector.

“The box” is the question concerning criminal records on employment applications.  In general, ban-the-box laws are those prohibiting employers from asking applicants about criminal history until after the interview process or an offer of employment has been made. 

To be sure, these laws are not meant to prevent employers from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal record or conducting background checks.  Rather, they seek to delay the question being asked until an applicant has had an opportunity to be considered for employment based on his/her skills and qualifications, thereby preventing employers from having automatic disqualifications of applicants who answer “yes” to criminal record questions.

Ex-offenders often face unfair barriers to employment solely because of these blanket disqualification practices by employers, and it is widely recognized that minorities are disproportionately eliminated from employment consideration as a result.  Advocates of ban-the-box believe that not asking about an applicant’s criminal record until the individual has had the opportunity to demonstrate what he or she can offer an employer, combined with adhering to recent EEOC guidance on conducting an individual analysis of any criminal record, increases the likelihood that ex-offenders receive fair opportunities for employment.

If you have any questions about ban-the-box laws or background checks, please contact us at 877-660-6400 or Contact@affinityHRgroup.com.

Are you feeling overwhelmed in the new year? You may need fresh talent. Staff up before it's too late.

If you execute an agreement for our comprehensive recruiting package in February, we'll conduct a complimentary behavioral assessment on your top candidate ($250 value), the results of which will help you determine fit.
 
Call us at 877-660-6400 or send an email to Contact@affinityHRgroup.com.
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This e-mail may contain general information about legal matters. Affinity HR Group does not provide legal counsel. The information provided should not be considered legal advice and should not be relied on as an alternative to legal advice from your attorney or other professional legal services provider.   If you have any specific questions about this content or any legal matter you should consult your attorney or other professional legal services provider.

What is the Monday HR Minute?
Affinity HR Group's Monday HR Minute is designed to provide you with practical, applicable human resources and management advice and information in a format that will take you 60 seconds or less to read.  We believe that by dedicating just one minute a week to thinking about people management practices, business owners and managers can make enormous strides in improving workplace performance. Feel free to forward the Monday HR Minute to anyone you think might benefit.  Or, if you don't already receive it in your inbox, click here to sign up
 
About Affinity HR Group
Affinity HR Group is a full service human resources consulting firm that specializes in advising small and medium-sized enterprises. Our services include recruiting and selection, HR policies and compliance, ad hoc HR support, compensation and performance management, and training and development.  Click here for a full menu of our services. We are an endorsed HR partner of a number of leading national trade associations and offer free initial consultations and discounted services to their member companies.

Email us at contact@affinityhrgroup.com or call 877-660-6400.
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