Consumer Law

California May Bar Credit Checks on Job Seekers

By Kemnitzer, Anderson, Barron, Ogilvie & Brewer

Employers are increasingly running credit checks on prospective employees. This practice will be prohibited in California with some exceptions if a bill in the California Legislature is enacted. Assemblyman Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk)'s bill, AB 482, would restrict credit checks except for jobs that involving handling money or certain personal information.

As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, Mendoza points out that credit checks discriminate against blacks, Latinos and lower income people who tend to have worse credit. Credit history often has nothing to do with job performance.

Full post as published by California Credit Law Blog on May 03, 2010 (boomark / email).