The City of Seattle Considering New Background Check Law

The City of Seattle Considering New Background Check Law

The City of Seattle is considering passing a new law which would prohibits employers from using criminal convictions against applicants as the basis for disqualification where there is no direct relationship between the conviction and the job.

What Would the Law Require?

  • Employers may still do criminal background checks, may request criminal history information from an applicant and consider it in making their hiring decision.  What this law requires is that the inquiry and consideration be made only after the employer has made the applicant a conditional offer of employment.
  • An employer can not discharge, refuse to hire or carry out a tangible adverse employment action because of an applicant’s arrest, pending charge or prior conviction unless is a direct relationship between the arrest, pending charge or prior conviction and the job in question.

To read the full article go to:

http://www.seattle.gov/council/harrell/job_assistance_leg.htm