The Use of Criminal Records in Employment Screening

On July 26, 2011, Property Owners’ Exchange, Inc. attended the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's hearing on the use of criminal records by employers in their employee selection process, and employee retention process.

The Commission, which refers to the issue as Arrest and Conviction Records as a Barrier to Employment, set up three panels, consisting of three witnesses on each panel.

Each of the three panels had a sub-topic, which were Best Practices for Employers, An Overview of Local, State and Federal Programs and Policies, and Legal Standards Governing Employers' Consideration of Criminal Arrest and Conviction Records. Each of the three witnesses in each panel were extremely credible and experts in their particular field.

Interestingly, of the nine witnesses throughout the three panels, only one voiced an absolute need for employers to be able to screen prospects for criminal history information.

There is no doubt about it-the law surrounding this top will be changing-it is just a matter of when and to what extreme.

For more information, please contact Damian Levin at damian@poeknows.com.