Md. lawmakers want to limit credit checks on job seekers

[madinmaryland]

Robert Robinson wanted to be a security guard. Easter Morris tried becoming a cleaning lady. Kyla Whiting sought work at a handbag outlet store.

All say they were denied jobs because their would-be employers learned that they had low credit scores.

In response to such stories, state lawmakers now are moving to limit the ability of businesses to run credit checks on job applicants.

"A credit report should not be the measure by which people are judged in terms of whether they can do a good job or not," said Sen. Catherine E. Pugh. "It's almost like an invasion of privacy."

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-employer-credit-check-20110320,0,4512779.story

:thumbsup:

[RKP5637]

1. IMO credit checks should only be allowed by law if the one being checked agrees

and provides written/signed consent. Also, all credit information IMO should be locked/frozen by default indefinitely until one being checked gives consent, and this applies for any inquiry. And one should not be forced to provide credit information to secure a job.

[guruoo]

6. Then employers will simply use that refusal as an excuse to turn you down

[RKP5637]

7. Yep, ... so we also need something that says it can't be used at

all, even asked. I think we need to go back and revisit all of the privacy laws in the US and update them for the 21st century ... so that people have more privacy.

[guruoo]

10. Make it both illegal for reporting agencies to share, and for employers to use

That would help to plug most of any potential holes, and end-arounds.

[RKP5637]

11. Yep!!! n/t

[EC]

2. Almost?

"A credit report should not be the measure by which people are judged in terms of whether they can do a good job or not," said Sen. Catherine E. Pugh. "It's almost like an invasion of privacy."

[Vincardog]

3. "It's almost like an invasion of privacy." No it IS an invasion of privacy, and no proof of anything

other than you need a income

[jacquelope]

4. Way to go, Maryland! n/t

.

[Kali]

5. now lets talk about piss tests

preemptive criminal investigations are as insane as preemptive wars based on lies

[drm604]

8. So if your credit report is bad because you're out of work...

then you're really screwed.

[SoCalDem]

9. If you are being hired for a money-handling job, it could be appropriate

in some instances, but for any other position it should not be a part of the application process.

[The Straight Story]

12. Why? It's the people with the most money and best scores that are robbing us blind. (nt)

[guruoo]

13. Including money handling jobs like cashier @ McDonalds, WalMart, etc?

[Horse with no Name]

14. I disagree

I know a very successful bank officer who had been bankrupt three times before she finally landed a job in a bank. She was a single parent whose ex didn't pay child support...her credit sucked. She has advanced up the ladder in her position, owns a nice home, car, etc. Kids are grown now and she has a seemingly stable future. A credit check would have eliminated her possibilities of this job. Not every one who has bad credit is going to steal from you and we seriously need to stop treating them like they will. People with good reports are just as likely to steal and the argument could be made that they are willing to steal to keep their credit rating, wbere as someone who has a low score would have a higher score if they stole because they could actually pay their bills.

[SoCalDem]

15. Operative words = "could be"

If the job requires bonding, there might be a credit check involved..

Honesty is not the issue.. Company policies are what they are..