JDP Blog

Supervisors in Linn County, Iowa’s second largest county, have agreed to ban the box  for those seeking employment with the county.  While the county will continue to require background checks for workers who are around vulnerable populations, such as law enforcement and daycare, it will not ask applicants about a criminal background in either an … Continue reading Linn County, Iowa Agrees to ‘Ban the Box’ for County Job Seekers

As a show of support to our great baseball team and even greater city, JDP is the official pre-employment screening partner of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Be sure to look for our logo in the outfield. GO PIRATES!

In response to America’s ongoing opioid crisis, the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) ruled on November 9 to include opioids in its drug testing program. The measure will go into effect on January 1, 2018. Methylenedioxyamphetamine has been added as an initial test analyte, and methylenedioxyethylamphetamine has been removed as a confirmatory test analyte. Additionally, … Continue reading Effective Jan. 1, 2018: DOT Drug Testing to Include Opioids

On October 14, 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown announced that he had signed Assembly Bill 1008, amending the California Fair Employment Housing Act (FEHA) to include Government Code section 12952. Essentially, the new section “bans the box” — restricting employer’s ability to make hiring decisions based on conviction history. Going into effect January 1, 2018, … Continue reading It’s Official: California Bans the Box

Nationally, many cities and counties have adopted legislation designed to restrict the ability of employers to inquire about the criminal histories of candidates during the application process. The ordinances, known as “ban-the-box” laws, have garnered some pushback from lawmakers in two states — Indiana and Texas. The Indiana State Legislature recently passed Indiana Senate Bill … Continue reading Texas and Indiana Introduce Legislation Intended To Curtail “Ban-the-Box” Laws

After two rounds of votes, the Board of Supervisors for the City and County of San Francisco passed the Parity in Pay Ordinance, a mandate that would prevent employers from asking about a job candidate’s salary history. If signed into law by the mayor, the Parity in Pay Ordinance will take effect July 1, 2018, with attendant penalties … Continue reading San Francisco Prohibits Employers From Inquiring About Salary History

Under the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), employers are prohibited from discriminating based on criminal history, and any entities associated with employers that violate the NYSHRL can also be held liable, but only for aiding and abetting a violation of the law. This legal clarification comes as a result of the Court’s ruling in the … Continue reading New York Court of Appeals Clarifies Who’s Responsible for Discriminatory Hiring Based on Criminal History

Starting July 1, 2017, employers in California with five or more employees will be prohibited from considering criminal histories when making employment decisions. This ruling comes as part of a new set of regulations set forth by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH)—regulations that also prohibit employment discrimination based on race, religion, … Continue reading CA Business Owners Must Stop Factoring In Criminal Histories in Hiring Decisions

With an increasing number of states legalizing recreational and medicinal marijuana, many employers are questioning the necessity for drug screening in the workplace. If you are one of those employers, consider the following: Marijuana use is still illegal from a federal perspective, and even if it becomes legal in the future, there are some valid … Continue reading Marijuana legalization: Should you keep drug screening?

Pittsburgh is the latest city to legally prohibit local employers from asking job candidates about salary histories. The ruling comes on the heels of several major cities and state governments making it illegal to inquire into past salaries during the employment process in an effort to close the gender pay gap. Massachusetts and New York … Continue reading Is It Illegal to Ask for Salary History in Your State/City?