On November 18, 2012, companies doing business in Newark, N.J., that employ five or more workers will be prohibited from conducting criminal background checks before or during the job application process. This new Newark ordinance bans companies from asking job applicants about their criminal histories, inquiring on employment applications about criminal history, and mentioning in advertisements that eligibility for employment is conditioned on an applicant’s criminal history. The law applies if the relevant position is physically located in whole or substantial part in Newark. And, the law applies whether the job position is permanent, temporary, contracted or seasonal, and whether or not the job is paid.

Read our Alert for more information about this new ordinance.