August

The House approved a bill to ban employers from asking about a job candidate's criminal history on an application. The bill is a watered-down version from what lawmakers first proposed. The original House Bill would have prohibited employers from conducting a background check before a conditional job offer, the amended version allows them to discuss an applicant's criminal record at an interview. Democratic supporters say the new version still gives applicants a chance to discuss their criminal record face to face with employers. Portland Mayor Charlie Hales recently pushed for a similar city ordinance but tabled it after business groups expressed concern that it would burden employers.

"On May 19, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed into law Public Act No. 15-6, titled ""An Act Concerning Employee Online Privacy."" The act applies to both employees and job applicants and prohibits employers from requiring or requesting employees or applicants to (1) provide the employer with a user name, password, or other means to access the employee's or applicant's personal online account (such as e-mail, social media and retail-based Internet websites), (2) authenticate or access a personal online account in the presence of the employer's representative, or (3) invite, or accept an invitation from, the employer to join a group affiliated with any personal online account. The act is effective October 1."

Colorado and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia, have enacted laws legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. Those jurisdictions and twenty-one other states have also legalized the use of medical marijuana. Meanwhile, U.S. Code still outlaws the use of marijuana, and programs funded by or under the direction of the federal government mandate drug testing that includes testing for marijuana. The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine published an article that presents a good overview of the issues associated with the use of marijuana in the workplace. Given the complex environment surrounding marijuana use, legal and illegal, employers need to assess the risks associated with the use of marijuana and other impairment-causing substances, create policies and develop plans.