Law and the Workplace

Tag Archives: hiring

Proposed Legislation Limiting Inquiries into an Applicant’s Criminal History Prior to an Offer of Employment Introduced in the New York State Legislature

By Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Margo Richard on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks
On February 7, 2023, Bill No. A03726 was introduced before the New York State Assembly which, if passed, would prohibit employers from inquiring about or making statements regarding “the arrest record or conviction record of any person who is in the process of applying for employment or interviewing for employment with such employer.” This proposed … Continue Reading

DOL’s New Independent Contractor Rule: A Return to 2020

By Allan Bloom on Posted in Biden Administration Coverage, FLSA, Independent Contractor, Misclassification, Wage and Hour
It’s been a bumpy road for the federal rules on independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act. In the courts, the test has always focused on the “economic reality” of the relationship between a worker and the entity that benefits from the services provided to determine whether the worker is an employee or … Continue Reading

EEOC and the DOJ Issue Guidance for Employers Using AI Tools to Assess Job Applicants and Employees

By Joseph O’Keefe, Edward Young and Dixie Morrison on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks
artificial intelligenceEmployers are more frequently relying on the use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) tools to automate employment decision-making, such as software that can review resumes and “chatbots” that interview and screen job applicants. We have previously blogged about the legal risks attendant to the use of such technologies, including here and here. On May 12, 2022, … Continue Reading

Louisiana Enacts Workplace Protections for Employees Disabled Due to Pregnancy and Limits the Use of Criminal Background Checks in Hiring

By Nicole Eichberger, Margaret Swetman and Eric Novak on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Louisiana employers should be aware of two new laws which went into effect on August 1, 2021.  The first, Act 393, provides for reasonable accommodations of employees who become temporarily disabled due to certain pregnancy-related medical conditions.  It amends Louisiana Revised Statutes §§ 23:341 and 23:342 and enacts § 23:341.1, which apply to employers who … Continue Reading

EEOC Updates Its COVID-19 Guidance

By Caralyn M. Olie and Harris Mufson on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Coronavirus, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
On June 17, 2020, the EEOC issued additional, revised technical assistance to employers, specifically addressing necessary considerations for employers that have employees returning to the workplace who are at higher risk for more severe illness due to COVID-19. This update supplemented the agency’s earlier guidance regarding best practices for diagnostic testing of employees, and the … Continue Reading

New Jersey Becomes the Latest Jurisdiction to Enact Ban on Salary History Inquiries

By Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks
The push to eliminate inquiries into job applicants’ salary history continues, as New Jersey has enacted a statewide law that will restrict employers from obtaining and utilizing applicants’ salary history information during the hiring process. The new law, which will take effect on January 1, 2020, will make it an unlawful employment practice for any … Continue Reading

Kansas City, Missouri Passes Ban on Salary History Inquiries

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Kansas City, Missouri is the latest jurisdiction (and the second Midwestern city in recent weeks) to enact a law that will prohibit employers from asking job applicants about salary history. The ordinance, which takes effect on October 31, 2019, will apply to employers in Kansas City with six or more employees, and will prohibit such … Continue Reading

Washington State Legislature Passes Ban on Salary History Inquiries

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Washington is poised to become the ninth state to pass a law that would prohibit employers from asking job applicants about their salary history. The state legislature recently passed HB 1696, which would, among other things, prohibit employers from inquiring into the prior “wage or salary history” of an applicant for employment. The bill has … Continue Reading

Hawaii Enacts Salary History Inquiry Law

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Hawaii Governor David Ige has signed into law a bill that will restrict employers from inquiring about applicants’ salary history during the hiring process. In addition, the law prohibits employers from retaliating or discriminating against employees for, or restricting employees from, disclosing their own wages or discussing and inquiring about the wages of other employees. … Continue Reading

[Podcast]: Recent Developments in California Law

By Tony Oncidi and Harris Mufson on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Independent Contractor, The Proskauer Brief Podcast, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partner Tony Oncidi and senior counsel Harris Mufson discuss key developments in California employment law, including a new test to determine whether workers are independent contractors or employees and what’s new on the #MeToo front. Listen to the podcast.  … 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

[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

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

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

New Rules Implementing the NYC Freelance Isn’t Free Act To Become Effective on July 24, 2017

By Allan Bloom and Laura Fant on Posted in Independent Contractor
As we previously reported, in November 2016, NYC Mayor De Blasio signed into law the Freelance Isn’t Free Act, establishing protections for freelance workers, including the right to receive a written contract for work valued at $800 or more, the right to be paid timely and in full, and the right to be free from … 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

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

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

Philadelphia, PA Bans Use of Credit Information in Employment Decisions

By Laura Fant and Wanda Ellert on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Job ApplicationEffective as of July 7, 2016, amendments to the Philadelphia, PA Fair Practices Ordinance make it an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer to procure, seek to procure, or use an applicant’s or employee’s credit information in connection with making any decisions relating to an individual’s hire, discharge, tenure, promotion, discipline, or in consideration of … Continue Reading
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