Criminal Record
Criminal Record
Criminal Record Discrimination
Discriminated Against Due to a Criminal Record? Call our New York Employment Lawyers for Help
Everyone deserves a fair opportunity to earn a living. If you paid your debt to society after committing a crime, you may rightly feel that you should be able to move on and put your past behind you. However, many employers will force you to continue to pay for your criminal history by refusing to hire you. Though this discriminatory practice is all too common, it is against the law. New Yorkers facing discrimination based on their criminal records can turn to us for help.
At Ricotta & Marks, P.C., our Queens criminal record discrimination attorneys are strong, experienced advocates for employee rights. We are here to protect you. If you or your loved one was discriminated against because of a criminal record, you need a skilled advocate in your corner. To schedule a strictly confidential consultation with a Queens employment discrimination lawyer, please call our Queens or Long Island law office today.
Queens and Long Island
Labor Employment Lawyers in Queens and Long Island
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Employees
At Ricotta & Marks, P.C., we represent employees in a broad spectrum of legal matters, including:
Harassment
Employee Discrimination
Wage & Hour Disputes
Education Law
At Ricotta & Marks, P.C., employment law is our sole focus. We have represented teachers facing a broad spectrum of legal issues and we are committed to protecting teachers’ rights. To learn more, please do not hesitate to contact us and schedule a free initial and confidential consultation at our Queens or Long Island offices today.
Wrongful Termination
Sometimes these “Jekyll and Hyde” switches occur because a superior learned something about a subordinate that then caused him or her to have a negative bias, like the employee was of a certain religion or sexual orientation. Sometimes the reason is more obvious, like a bias against people of a certain race, being male or female, a woman becoming pregnant or people with disabilities.
Other Employment Law Issues
Criminal Record Discrimination
Criminal Record Discrimination
New York Law: Criminal Record Discrimination
There are no federal labor laws that explicitly prohibit companies and organizations from discriminating against employees and job candidates on the basis of a criminal record. The good news is that New York state law and New York City law provides legal protections. The most important thing to know about New York State law is that it is unlawful to discriminate against an employee or job applicant based on an arrest that did not lead to a conviction.
Workers in New York City have an additional layer of protection. Our city has one of the strongest ‘Ban-the-Box’ laws in the entire country. Municipal law makes it illegal for employers within NYC to inquire about criminal records before making a job offer. Only after a formal offer is made can an employer take adverse action based on a criminal conviction. If they do so, they must give the applicant a ‘Fair Chance Notice’ that explains and justifies the decision.
Discrimination Based on Your Background Check
As long as the crime is unrelated to the job you apply for, it is illegal for employers to discriminate based on a criminal record. For example, if you were arrested at age 16 for fighting and are applying for a job as a physical therapist, the crime is not related to the work. Therefore, it is unlawful for the employer to refuse to hire you based on your criminal record.
It is legal for the employer to refuse to hire a candidate based on a criminal record if there is a connection between the crime and the nature of the work. For instance, if you were arrested for embezzlement and are seeking work in the securities industry, employers can legally discriminate based on your criminal record.
If an employer refused to hire or promote you based on an unrelated crime from your past, you may be a victim of criminal record job discrimination. Our employment lawyers will take aggressive action to address the underlying discrimination.
Why Hire the Employment Discrimination Lawyers at Ricotta & Marks
Discrimination in the workplace is not acceptable. At Ricotta & Marks, P.C., most of our practice is devoted to representing victims of employment discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of a criminal record. We work tirelessly to protect the rights of employees. When you reach out to our Queens or Long Island law office, you will have a chance to speak to a Queens employment lawyer who can:
- Conduct an in-depth review of your criminal record discrimination case;
- Explain your rights and options under state and local law;
- Investigate the incident—securing relevant information and evidence; and
- Craft a legal strategy focused on getting you justice and compensation.
We are firmly committed to representing employees with personal attention and service. You need a New York City employment lawyer who will put forward the time and resources to ensure that you achieve the best results. Do not assume that you are without options. Our New York criminal record discrimination lawyers are here to help.
Call Our Queens Criminal Record Discrimination Attorneys for Help
At Ricotta & Marks, P.C., our New York employment lawyers have the skills and experience to represent workers facing discrimination on the basis of criminal records. We will protect your rights and help you get justice and a fair opportunity to earn a living. Contact our Queens office today for a fully private, no commitment initial consultation. We represent employees throughout the New York City metropolitan area, including in Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island, and Long Island.