Law and the Workplace

Category Archives: Hiring/Background Checks

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New Hampshire Expands Protections Against Discrimination to Include Gender Identity

By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
gender identityNew Hampshire has enacted a law to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodation. The law, which amends the state’s Law Against Discrimination, takes effect July 8, 2018. The law will make it an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer to: (i) refuse to hire or employ; (ii) bar or … Continue Reading

Connecticut Enacts Salary History Inquiry Law

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has signed into law a bill that will restrict employers from inquiring about applicants’ salary history during the hiring process.  The law will take effect on January 1, 2019. Under the law, employers will be prohibited from inquiring or directing a third party to inquire about a prospective employee’s wage history, … Continue Reading

Vermont Enacts Salary History Inquiry Law

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Paying WagesVermont has become the latest jurisdiction to enact a law that will prohibit employers from inquiring about, seeking, or requiring salary history information from prospective employees. The law will take effect on July 1, 2018. Under the law, employers and their agents will be prohibited from: inquiring about or seeking information regarding a prospective employee’s … Continue Reading

Massachusetts Modifies “Ban the Box” Law

By Laura Franks, Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker recently signed Senate Bill No. 2371, “An Act Relative to Criminal Justice Reform,” into law. The law will go into effect October 13, 2018.  Among the Act’s extensive criminal justice reform provisions are several important modifications to the “Ban the Box” anti-discrimination laws, outlined below, which will further restrict Massachusetts employers’ … Continue Reading

DOJ Announces First Settlement Under Trump Administration Regarding “No-Poach” Agreement

By Colin Kass, Lloyd B. Chinn, Laura Fant and Myra Din on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, Non-Competes and Protection of Corporate Assets
On April 3, 2018, the Antitrust Division of the U.S Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced that it had reached a settlement in a matter involving a “no-poaching” agreement between employers—the first such enforcement action under the Trump Administration.  The DOJ’s pursuit of the matter reflects the Department’s continuing scrutiny of employment and hiring agreements between … Continue Reading

Westchester County, New York Enacts Salary History Inquiry Law

By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Maryssa Mataras on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
The Westchester County, NY Board of Legislators has unanimously enacted legislation that will prohibit employers and their agents from relying on, requiring, requesting, or seeking information about a prospective employee’s wage history during the hiring process. The Wage History Anti-Discrimination Law (the “Law”) will become effective on July 9, 2018. The Law amends the Westchester … Continue Reading

Massachusetts Attorney General Issues Guidance on Updated Pay Equity Law

By Laura Franks, Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General recently issued guidance on the new amendments to the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act (“MEPA”), effective July 1, 2018. Although the guidance is extremely detailed and should be reviewed in full, employers should take note of the following details: Coverage The MEPA and amendments are substantial in scope, covering … Continue Reading

[Podcast]: Laws Governing Background Checks for Employers

By Harris Mufson and Michelle Gyves on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, The Proskauer Brief Podcast
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, senior counsel Harris Mufson and associate Michelle Gyves discuss the main laws governing background checks for employers. We will discuss how employers can utilize the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to conduct pre-employment background checks on candidates. In addition to FCRA, we also discuss how “ban the box” and credit check … Continue Reading

Illinois Senate Fails to Override Governor’s Veto of Salary History Ban

By Alex Weinstein, Connie Bertram and Emilie Adams on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks
Bucking the nationwide trend, Illinois was unable to pass a law prohibiting employers from asking job applicants about their salary history. On November 9, 2017, the Illinois Senate failed to override Governor Rauner’s veto of a salary history ban. As we previously reported, on August 25, 2017, Governor Rauner vetoed a bill that would have … Continue Reading

District Court Dismisses Putative FCRA Class Action For Lack Of Standing

By Edward Young, Michelle Gyves and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California recently dismissed a putative class action alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), finding that the named plaintiff lacked standing to pursue her claims. Saltzbreg v. Home Depot, U.S.A., Inc., No. 17-cv-05798 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 18, 2017). The Complaint The plaintiff filed a … Continue Reading

California Enacts Statewide Law Restricting Inquiries into Applicants’ Salary History

By Tony Oncidi and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks
California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a statewide salary history inquiry law that will largely restrict employers in the state from seeking and relying upon salary history information from applicants during the hiring process. The law, which will go into effect on January 1, 2018 and will apply to all private and public … Continue Reading

UPDATED: New York City Commission on Human Rights Publishes FAQ Guidance on NYC Salary History Law

By Allan Bloom, Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks
NYC Commission on Human RightsOn the heels of its recently issued fact sheets, the NYC Commission on Human Rights (the “Commission”) has published a frequently asked questions page on the New York City salary history inquiry law, which goes into effect on October 31, 2017. The FAQs address a number of details about the law, which restricts the ability … Continue Reading

Fact Sheets for Employers and Applicants Issued on NYC Salary History Inquiry Law

By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks
NYC Commission on Human RightsAs the October 31, 2017 effective date for the New York City salary history inquiry law fast approaches, the NYC Commission on Human Rights (the “Commission”) has issued two new fact sheets addressing applicants’ rights, and employer responsibilities, under the new law.  The first fact sheet is addressed to job applicants, while the second fact … Continue Reading

Illinois Governor Vetoes Bill That Would Prohibit Employer Inquiry Into Wage History

By Alex Weinstein and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks
On August 25, 2017, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill that would prohibit employers from asking applicants about their wage histories. The bill, known as the Illinois No Salary History Law, previously had been passed by the Illinois House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support (91-24 in the House and 35-18 in the Senate).  The … Continue Reading

Top Five Proactive Ways for Start-Ups to Avoid HR Nightmares

By Keisha-Ann Gray on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Unless you’ve been under a rock, the fact that many start-ups have recently found themselves on the wrong side of the litigation or threatened litigation “v.” should not surprise you. In fact, it is often the very things that make start-ups so appealing – their laid back culture, open floor plans, no dress code, lack … Continue Reading

UPDATE: Philadelphia Law Prohibiting Salary History Inquiries Survives Legal Challenge … For Now

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks
A Pennsylvania federal district court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to declare unconstitutional a Philadelphia ordinance making it unlawful for employers to inquire into a job applicant’s wage history during the hiring process. As we previously reported, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia (the “Chamber”) sought to enjoin the new city law in April 2017, … Continue Reading

[Podcast] The Proskauer Brief: New York City’s New Salary History Law

By Harris Mufson and Laura Fant on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, The Proskauer Brief Podcast, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
In the inaugural “The Proskauer Brief” podcast episode, senior counsel Harris Mufson and associate Laura Fant discuss New York City’s new salary history law, noting that employers should be actively taking steps to prepare for October 31, 2017, when the law will go into effect. This law will place significant restrictions on the ability of employers to … Continue Reading

New York Court of Appeals Clarifies Application of New York’s Criminal History Discrimination and “Aiding and Abetting” Provisions

By Joseph Baumgarten and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks
In Griffin v. Sirva, Inc., the New York Court of Appeals held that while only “employers” may be liable for criminal conviction history discrimination under Section 296(15) of the New York State Human Rights Law (“NYSHRL”), a covered employer may extend beyond a worker’s direct employer to also include entities that exercise “order and control” … Continue Reading

Mayor Signs Into Law New York City Bill Restricting Employer Inquiries Into Applicants’ Salary History

By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has signed into law a bill that will make it unlawful for employers to inquire into or rely upon job applicants’ wage history during the hiring process, with limited exception.  The law will take effect on October 31, 2017. As we previously reported, the law prohibits employers, employment … Continue Reading

Philadelphia Delays Implementation of Ordinance Restricting Employer Inquiries Into Applicants’ Salary History Following Legal Challenge

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Philadelphia has indefinitely delayed implementation of its new ordinance that that will make it unlawful for employers to inquire into an applicant’s wage history during the hiring process. As we previously reported, the law was scheduled to take effect on May 23, 2017.  However, on April 6, 2017, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia … Continue Reading

New York City Council Approves Bill Restricting Employer Inquiries Into Applicants’ Salary History

By Arielle E. Kobetz, Laura Fant and Evandro Gigante on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
The New York City Council has approved a bill that would make it unlawful for employers to inquire into or rely upon job applicants’ wage history during the hiring process, with limited exception.  The bill now goes before Mayor Bill de Blasio and, if signed, will become effective 180 days following signature. As we previously … Continue Reading

New Orleans Mayor Issues Executive Order Restricting City Departments From Inquiring Into An Applicant’s Salary History

By Nicole Eichberger and Tulio Chirinos on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks
New Orleans Mayor, Mitch Landrieu, has issued an executive order that bans questions about salary history during the application processes for City positions. The executive order is effective January 25, 2017 and is similar to measures in Philadelphia and Massachusetts. The executive order applies to all City departments and prohibits inquiries about a candidate’s salary … Continue Reading

Philadelphia The Latest To Restrict Employer Inquiries Into Applicants’ Salary History

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Job ApplicationThe City of Philadelphia has passed an ordinance that will make it unlawful for employers to inquire into an applicant’s wage history during the hiring process.  The law, which amends the city’s current Fair Practices Ordinance, will take effect on May 23, 2017. The ordinance states that—absent a federal, state, or local law specifically authorizing the … Continue Reading

Proskauer’s Value Insights Survey is Now Live

By Elise M. Bloom on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Class/Collective Action, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Independent Contractor, Leaves of Absences, Litigation and Arbitration, Performance Management, Discipline & Termination, Strategic Corporate Planning, Vacation policy, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures, Workplace Restructuring and WARN
Proskauer’s second Value Insights: Delivering Value in Labor and Employment Law survey is now live and we want to hear from you. Value Insights explores how in-house counsel can maximize the value they provide to their business partners and correspondingly, how they can most effectively partner with outside counsel on managing labor and employment work. … Continue Reading
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