Don’t take credit-report screening advice for granted

It was more than six months ago when craft retailer Michaels was allegedly informed that it needed to move its background check disclosure statement on its job applications. Michaels was allegedly told by consumer reporting agency General Information Services Inc. that it needed to put that disclosure on a separate document, as it was “included on the same page as … where a job applicant may record his or her previous work experience, 10 notices of state laws … and various other statements.” Despite the warning, the retailer failed to complete this action, and now finds itself in the midst of a lawsuit for allegedly breaking state and federal laws. The case is brought forth by New Jersey’s Christina Graham, who applied to work at the craft store last June. The plaintiff states that Michaels is in violation of New Jersey’s Fair Credit Reporting Act, as well as the federal Act, both of which mandate that employers disclose that they intend to conduct credit report checks during the background check process on a document that is separate from the rest of the employment application. Graham hopes to win damages not only for herself, but also for all Michaels applicants in any state over the previous two years that was subject to background and/or credit checks without being properly informed, as well as every New Jersey resident who applied to Michaels over the previous six-year time period and was put through the same types of background checks. There is no indication that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is involved in Graham’s lawsuit. photo credit: JeepersMedia via photopin cc]]>