NYC joins cities, states banning credit screenings for most job applicants

This article originally appeared in Anderson Kill's Employment Law Insider Alert (May 2015)

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier this month signed into law the Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act that would prevent employers from using credit checks, bankruptcies and liens to disqualify most applicants from employment. The bill, passed by the New York City Council in a 47–3 vote in April, takes effect on Sept. 3.

The law amends the city’s Human Rights Law to add protections prohibiting discrimination on the basis of an individual’s credit history by limiting most employer inquiries into,or basing employment decisions upon, the credit history of a current or prospective employee.