Illinois law bans background checks early in hiring process

Illinois is the latest state to pass legislation preventing employers from conducting background checks early on in the hiring process. Under the new law, which was signed by Governor Pat Quinn in July, private employers that have more than 15 employees may only conduct background checks after an interview has been conducted and the candidate has been considered qualified for the role. The state had previously passed “ban the box” legislation in 2013. This new law, called the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act, makes Illinois the fifth state to pass legislation preventing criminal background checks prior to formal interviews. Gov. Quinn said that the new law was intended to prevent discrimination against ex-convicts, and his office stated that these recent laws have been part of the process to give all people “a second chance in life.” “This law will help ensure that people across Illinois get a fair shot to reach their full potential through their skills and qualifications, rather than past history,” Quinn said. “It will also help reduce recidivism, fight poverty and prevent violence in our communities by putting more people back to work.” The law will not affect those jobs in which it is required to pass criminal background checks for public safety reasons, and those who apply for jobs as teachers, childcare workers, some types of construction and other safety-related jobs will still undergo the standard criminal background checks. The Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act will go into effect on January 1. photo credit: MyTudut via photopin cc]]>