New Illinois Law: Employers Can’t Ask Prospective Employees If They’re Criminals
by Sara Noble • January 2, 2015
EEOC
There is a new Illinois law that prohibits employers from asking about a prospective employee’s criminal background on an application and during the beginning review stages.
Criminals are the new protected class. The law claims criminals are not a protected class all while they make them into a protected class.
Employers can say they don’t want a particular type of criminal before the person applies but that’s it. Macy’s can say they don’t want thieves for example, but they can’t say no to criminals in general – no blanket statements.
If you don’t want a murderer, you’d better say that upfront.
As the review process goes on, you can eliminate them but it better not be because of their criminal background. The liberals are delusional if they think they won’t be eliminated anyway somewhere along the line.
The “Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act” (House Bill 5701)” was signed in July and has gone into effect as of January 1st.
It’s called “ban the box.”
It does exclude companies that require bonding and any criminal background that would preclude them from getting bonded. The employer can inquire about those offenses.
EMS workers are excluded.
If employers don’t toe-the-line or if a criminal wants to say they didn’t, the employers will now be subject to lawsuits and civil penalties. They will have the Department of Labor on their case.
The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) already has guidelines banning prejudice against hiring of illegals and criminals.
They believe many criminals are minorities and having rules against hiring criminals amounts to bigotry.
It’s social justice hiring and does nothing to protect the common good.
The Obama EEOC has its giant foot on the throat of private business. Check their list of “don’ts,” as examples:
Businesses are not allowed to encourage recent college graduates to apply through advertisements because it might discourage men over 40.
Relying on word-of-mouth recruitment could be illegal because people who are of the same gender or race or whatever might have an edge.
Tests for new hires and for promotions are subject to government scrutiny.
Employers can’t ask for a photo of an applicant unless the applicant has been offered a job. So if you hire someone without meeting them and find that the person is Quasimodo, you can’t take it back.
You CANNOT ask a person if they are a citizen. Seriously, you cannot.
If someone wants to come in dressed like a 1790’s Navajo and claims it is for religious reasons, the company will have a legal challenge if their dress code conflicts.
This is life under the socialist democrats. It’s not going to be a fun ride.
http://www.independentsentinel.com/new-illinois-law-employers-cant-ask-prospective-employees-if-theyre-criminals/
