On November 30, 2016, the Los Angeles City Council passed the “Fair Chance Initiative,” also known as the “Ban the Box Initiative,” which prohibits employers that do business in Los Angeles from inquiring about or asking about a job applicant’s criminal history. The ordinance will go into effect on January 1, 2017.
An employer may only inquire about an applicant’s criminal history if the applicant is going to work in Los Angeles after offering the applicant a “conditional offer of employment.” After providing the applicant this conditional offer, the employer is prohibited from taking any adverse action, including withdrawal or cancellation of the applicant’s conditional offer, unless the employer performs a written assessment linking the applicant’s criminal history with the risks inherent in employing the applicant. More>>