Discrimination & Harassment

Background Checks, Credit History & Criminal Record

Outten & Golden attorneys represent people who have been denied employment because of information an employer received through a background check, including credit histories and criminal records. In certain situations, an employer’s use of this information to make an employment decision violates the law.

Employers are increasingly conducting background checks on applicants and using criminal and credit history as grounds for denying employment. Because of the racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system and in the credit rating system, the use of background checks can result in discrimination. Even though the discrimination may not be intentional, the federal Civil Rights Act and a number of state and local laws make it illegal for an employer to use a screening device that causes a disparate impact based on an individual's race or ethnicity.

Contact Employment Discrimination Attorneys

Outten & Golden lawyers can help individuals determine whether their criminal or credit history played a role in an employment decision and, if so, whether they have grounds for pursuing a case against the employer. If you believe you have been subjected to background check or criminal record employment discrimination, please contact the firm through the ”Contact Us" form or by calling us in the New York, San Francisco or Washington, DC office (see bottom of page for phone numbers) to begin the Outten & Golden intake process.

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Related Cases

Ramos v. Walmart, Inc.

Status:
Active
Updated:

Plaintiff Jacqueline Ramos filed a complaint in the District of New Jersey against Walmart, the country’s largest private employer, alleging criminal background check discrimination.

NTT Data, Inc. – Criminal History Discrimination Class Action

Status:
Active

On August 15, 2018, Outten & Golden filed suit against NTT Data, Inc., one of the largest information technology services providers in the world.  The suit challenges NTT’s blanket rejection of job applicants with criminal records, even where their criminal history has no bearing on an...

News

Nonprofits, Profs Urge Redo In 2nd Circ. Ex-Felon Bias Ruling

Law360 - Tim Ryan

The Second Circuit's ruling that national criminal justice statistics are insufficient to support claims of a company's discrimination against applicants with felony convictions will disproportionately harm workers of color, a collection of public interest groups and criminologists supporting rehearing the case told the appeals court.

Macy’s Hit With Class Lawsuit Over Criminal History Checks

Outten & Golden LLP, NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund Inc., and Youth Represent

Macy’s Inc. illegally rejects job applicants, revokes job offers, and terminates employment based on old, minor, and unrelated criminal histories, a class action filed June 26 alleges.

Employment Lawyers Conference in the #MeToo Era

Fordham Law News—Nate Svogun

The event, organized by the New York affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA/NY), focused on current issues in employment law, and was attended by over 100 legal professionals, scholars, and students.