Businesses Face Fines for Credit Checks, starting today, Crain’s NY, ft. Ellen Storch

Ellen R. Storch, partner at Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP in Woodbury, NY, was quoted in the September 3rd article of Crain’s NY on a new law in New York City banning employers from checking job applicants’ credit scores, with the city promising aggressive enforcement.

Ellen Storch, a labor and employment lawyer at Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck, said that despite those carve-outs, the law could prove burdensome for businesses.

“This is such the de Blasio version of what this law should be,” she said. “My view is it’s pretty antibusiness.”

The credit-check ban isn’t the only new mandate for employers: Starting Oct. 27, the city’s “ban the box” law will go into effect, which forbids employers from digging up a job applicant’s criminal history until they are about to extend a job offer, and requires them to explain in writing why they reject applicants who have records.

“It’s a double whammy,” Ms. Storch said.

Read more at the full article.