Tag Archive for: fair chance

Ban the Box laws spread across the country

Looking for a survey of ban-the-box laws (laws that prohibit private employers from asking applicants about criminal histories)? These laws are being debated at every level of the government. With some form of “ban the box” aka “fair chance” legislation in 9 states (Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont) and 29 local authorities, it can be a challenge to determine if your company is in a jurisdiction covered by such a law. At the federal level, the Fair Chance to Compete Act was introduced (though not passed) in 2017, as S. 842 and H.R. 1905.

Here’s a handy chart published by SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management). See also this report by the National Employment Law Project, which estimates that “over 226 million people in the United States—over two-thirds of the U.S. population—live in a jurisdiction with some form of ban-the-box or fair-chance policy.”

Note these laws are quickly evolving. Indeed, this posting will likely be out of date by the time readers view it (!). Call your employment lawyer for updates.

Source: Ban the Box Laws by State and Municipality