Senate Bill 207 – Conviction Records as a Protected Class under WFEA

Providing a Safe Workplace
Chapter 101.11 of the state statutes requires employers to provide a safe work environment for employees, vendors, and customers. Employers need to conduct background checks of potential employees in order to ensure a safe place of employment. Some applicants choose not to disclose their felony convictions; when that status is eventually revealed, they can be terminated for falsifying their application. Under the safe workplace statute, a responsible employer has the duty to be aware of the criminal records of their employees. The employer will need to defend either the hiring decision or the failure to hire. (read more)