Just after Massachusetts passed its criminal justice reform bill, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy announced that her office conducted an investigation into the employment applications of more than 70 businesses in the Boston area to determine if they violated the state’s ban the box law.
In all, the AG office entered into agreements with four large employers (three were fined $5,000 each) and sent warning letters to an additional 17 employers. These employers all were required to update their application process to comply with Massachusetts law in removing questions about a candidate’s criminal history.
Employers that hire in the state should take this as a warning that Massachusetts is proactively enforcing the law, even if there isn’t a complaint about violations.
Disclaimer
This information is provided by JDP for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. JDP is not legal counsel and cannot provide legal advice. Anyone reading this content should work with counsel to determine how legislative updates affect their employment screening program.