Insights & Information

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a new guidance regarding the use of criminal records in employee hiring, a move applauded by The Legal Action Center. The guidance illustrates how employers use of criminal history could be a form of employment discrimination, and discusses the difference between arrest and conviction records. This new guidance addresses the challenges and hardships faced by individuals with criminal records seeking employment. "As individuals endeavor to turn their lives around, it's key for employers to consider their convictions on a case-by-case basis instead of using blanket bans and arbitrary criteria," said Sally Friedman, LAC's legal director. "Especially with the kind of errors we see every day on rap sheets, employers can't possibly treat applicants fairly any other way." For more information, click here.