Privacy-protection laws set forth strict procedures that employers must follow when examining your background. These laws protect employees against an arbitrary intrusion into their privacy, family, home, correspondence, and reputation.
Here’s a checklist to help determine if your privacy rights may have been violated:
- Your employer required a credit check at the beginning of your employment (or any time thereafter)
- Your employer asked strictly forbidden questions, including: your maiden name, whether you own or rent your residence, your national origin, marital status, religion, or your race
- Your employer asked you to take a medical examination or sought access to your medical records for reasons not reasonably related to your job
- Your employer asked about any addiction-related medical condition (including methadone maintenance) or your employer demoted or fired you based on substance abuse or an addiction-related medical condition
- Your employer sought access to criminal records for reasons not reasonably related to your job
- Your employer asked you to sign a form releasing the employer from any liability for making inquiries into your private credit history, driving record, or criminal record
If your employer made a prohibited inquiry either before you were hired and/or while you were on the job, you may have been subjected to a privacy violation. If you’ve experienced any of the above privacy abuses or you believe your employer has infringed on your privacy—or you’re not sure and need advice—take action now. There’s no charge and everything is kept confidential. Contact us today—the employment law experts at Lawyers for Employee & Consumer Rights.