A ridiculous federal rule says it can be “discriminatory” for a company to refuse to hire criminals if doing so would bar a disproportionate number of minority applicants from employment.
That is outrageous. Businesses may nobly give convicted criminals a second chance by hiring them, but they should never be forced to do that. They are entitled to keep their workplaces safe.
But if you thought that absurd “discrimination” rule simply sat on the books unenforced, think again. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued Freeman Cos., an events and exhibitions marketing company, because the company used criminal records and credit checks to screen applicants, Tribune Newspapers reported.
Also being sued is Kaplan Higher Education Corp. It allegedly “discriminated” by doing credit checks of job applicants. Kaplan uses credit checks for workers who deal with financial matters, including employees who advise students about financial aid. That’s sensible, because no one with a history of defaulting on his own loans or routinely failing to pay bills on time should be counseling students who are seeking financial aid.
The EEOC said it doesn’t matter if there is no racial motive in employers’ use of criminal background or credit checks. If those standards bar a disproportionate percentage of minority applicants from being hired, the company can face a costly lawsuit. It may then have to pay “damages” — to convicted criminals!