The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released new guidelines related to using criminal records to screen prospective workers. The guidelines may mean more trouble for employers but could help ex-offenders reenter the workforce.
Under the new guidelines, simply disqualifying a job applicant simply because of a criminal record is too broad a step for most companies. Rather, firms need to have narrowly tailored policies that match the needs of their business. Companies now must also allow prospective candidates to explain why their criminal history should not disqualify them.
Even though most of the information was previously available to employers, the EEOC has given more examples about how to craft a hiring policy that does not violate federal anti-discrimination laws. Furthermore, the EEOC also gives more background on how an employer should consider an individual’s circumstances.
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