'Ban the Box' Hiring Law Now Applies to U.S. Federal Contracts
Ban the Box Hiring Law Now Applies to U.S. Federal Contracts
Jan. 3, 2022, 5:18 AM
Inquiries about criminal records banned before first offer
Proposed rule to address compliance expected this month
Federal contractors no longer can inquire about an applicants criminal history before extending a conditional job offer to work on a government contract, a new prohibition that stems from a Trump-era defense policy law.
The restriction, tucked into the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2020, took effect Dec. 20, and a proposed rule that could guide compliance is expected to be released in coming days.
Attorneys who represent companies that do business with the federal government said the ban the box law wont require major changes for many contractors because they already navigate a patchwork of similar state laws across the U.S.
Its just a lot easier, from an administrative standpoint, to go ahead and make that standard practice, said Olaoluwaposi Oshinowo, special counsel with Wiley Rein LLP. There shouldnt be a heavy lift for most federal contractors to comply here.
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