Employment laws from state to state prevent private employers from looking into an applicant’s criminal or credit histories, even though this is an important factor in making hiring decisions. Most states and even some cities have laws in place that allow criminal background checks or forbid them and in other states, employers in certain industries are required to conduct background checks on their applicants. Georgia, St. Louis, and Washington are updating background check laws this year, but it’s important for employers across the country to check state labor law guides.
