Ban the use of background and credit history checks for employment purposes

This petition is to stop Corporations and Employers in the State of Florida from using background and credit history checks for employment purposes.

Due to the explosion of background and history checks being preformed for employment that are unnecessary to the required job, there are many people who are hard workers who cannot find employment. Unless there are changes made the practice will be detrimental to families across Florida.

We feel this is a complete violation into individual’s personal life; no Employer has the right to know what is on the perspective employee’s credit file, unless they are applying with financial institutions or for a financial position. There is absolutely no reason for a person applying for a job to have it known how much is on their credit card, what their car payment is nor how much their mortgage is. This is personal information and needs to be safeguarded. If a person applies with several companies a day and has to sign consent, there are that many more people looking at his or her credit file. And to reject employment because they have a poor credit history is absurd.

Criminal background checks have skyrocketed causing many ex felons or people with misdemeanors to be rejected for a position. There should be a cap such as 7 years that the companies are allowed to go back to, unless convicted of a sexual assault, sexual predator or other similar charge. To not put a cap on this is continuing to punish the individual after they have served their time. This is both morally and legally wrong, as well a gross form of discrimination. This is causing hardship among families.

Obviously we have all at one time or another made a bad choice, or have found ourselves unemployed for whatever reasons. To not be able to obtain employment due to background and history checks is unfair and unconstitutional.