March

The online admissions application for Auburn University appears simple, until you get to this question: "Have you ever been charged with or convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a crime other than a minor traffic offense, or are there any criminal charges now pending against you?" Those who check "yes", even though they have never been convicted of any crime, face extra scrutiny and a follow-up call from the admissions office asking for additional information.
 
Auburn is one of 17 universities in the South that include broad questions on their admissions applications about any contact with the legal system or the police that applicants might have had “even an arrest, with no conviction” according to the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an advocacy group.
 
The universities are now the focus of an inquiry by the organization, which says such questions unfairly penalize minorities, who tend to face arrest more frequently and, as a result, could face higher admissions hurdles.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced settlements with two major national retailers, Big Lots Stores and Marshalls, to "Ban the Box" on initial employment applications at their Buffalo stores.
 
The settlement will ensure that both companies comply with the local Buffalo law that prohibits employers from inquiring into criminal history on initial employment applications. In addition to satisfying the requirements of the local ordinance, both companies have taken the additional step of removing such inquiries from applications to any store in New York State.
 
"Obtaining meaningful employment is often the most crucial step towards reducing the chances of recidivism among formerly incarcerated persons," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "That is why my office is committed to breaking down barriers that impede rehabilitation, especially those that prevent fair access to employment”.

Wells Fargo will pay twelve million dollars related to allegations for obtaining consumer reports (background checks) in connection with job applications.
 
Plaintiff Terrell Manuel applied for and was offered a job at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (Wells Fargo). At the time Manuel applied for a job, Wells Fargo obtained an employment-purposed consumer report, sometimes called a background check, about Manuel from First Advantage Background Services Corp.
 
Manuel alleges that Wells Fargo took an adverse action against him by denying his employment based on the results of his employment-purposed consumer report. Manuel alleges Wells Fargo did not provide a copy of his consumer report and other disclosures required by 15 U.S.C. 1681b(b)(3)(A)(ii) at least five business days before denying his employment as a result of his consumer report.