California recently joined a growing number of cities and states to pass a law that bans salary history questions. Prompted by concerns about gender- and race-based wage discrimination, the law is designed to prevent employers from using past compensation as a basis…
Posts by Category: Background Check Laws
First Arkansas Town Approves Medical Marijuana Regulations
Texarkana’s board of directors recently approved business license fees for dispensaries and medical cannabis growers in the state of Arkansas. Dispensaries, which will need to pay an initial $7,500 and then $11,000 for yearly license renewals, could be operational…
Marijuana Trends Force Employers to Rethink Drug Testing Policies
With more and more employees testing positive for state-legalized marijuana, employers are encouraged to rethink testing and rewrite policies. Positive saliva and urine tests are climbing in both federally mandated, safety-sensitive workplaces, and general U.S….
In the Weeds: Florida Lawmakers Provide Medical Marijuana Guidance for the Workplace
There’s good news and bad news for employers after Florida Governor Rick Scott recently signed a medical marijuana bill into law that provides guidelines on the implementation of the state’s Constitutional Amendment regarding medical marijuana. In 2014, the governor…
Business Group Files Amended Complaint in Lawsuit Challenging Philadelphia Wage History Law
The Philadelphia Wage History Ordinance, scheduled to take effect in May, has been subject to a federal court stay pending resolution of a lawsuit for a preliminary injunction brought by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. The Ordinance prohibits…
West Virginia Enacts Law Permitting Broad Employment-Related Drug and Alcohol Testing
The Safer Workplace Act, will goes into effect July 7, 2017, will broaden the circumstances under which employers may conduct workplace drug and alcohol testing. Employers must comply with all of the statue’s requirements in order to take advantage of its benefits….
Arkansas Legislature Adds Employer Protections to Medical Marijuana Law
Arkansas has passed a constitutional amendment that establishes a medical marijuana program, which includes sections that clarify when an employer can take an adverse employment action against an employee who is a medical marijuana user. Some sections place limits on…
New York City Mayor Signs Pay Equity Law – Impact on Employment Background Checks
New York City has joined Massachusetts and Philadelphia in prohibiting employers from inquiring about a prospective employee’s salary history during the hiring process. Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the new law in May, which will take effect Oct. 31 and applies to…
The City of Philadelphia Has Agreed to Stay the Enforcement of the Philadelphia Wage Equity Ordinance Pending Resolution of Court Challenge
Although the Philadelphia Wage Equity Ordinance has generated controversy, the City of Philadelphia has agreed to stay the enforcement. In April, the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern…
Kansas Federal Court Grants Partial Approval to Background Check Disclosure Class Action Settlement
In January, the United States District Court for the District of Kansas granted partial preliminary approval to the class settlement in Lengel v. HomeAdvisor, Inc., No. 15-2198-KHV. The plaintiff alleged that the company violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)…