Main Menu

Publications

PDF

Employers Face an Increase in Class Action Lawsuits Based on Pre-Employment Background Checks

02.01.2019

An increasing problem facing employers is the threat of class action lawsuits related to their use of background checks. In these lawsuits, plaintiffs claim that employers are violating a federal statute called the Fair Credit Reporting Act (the “FCRA”), which regulates, among other things, an employer’s use of background checks performed by third party providers. For example, in November 2018, the pet care products retailer Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. (“Petco”) settled a class action lawsuit alleging FCRA violations that was filed by a group of applicants for $1.2 million. The primary claim asserted by the applicants was that Petco had not provided them with proper notice that Petco may obtain and use a “consumer report” (explained more fully below) in the course of its hiring process.

The FCRA has become a growing source of class actions due largely to the fact that plaintiffs can recover significant damages in these types of actions. Penalties range from $100 to $1,000 plus attorneys’ fees for “willful” violations, and actual damages plus attorneys’ fees for “negligent” violations. The fact that an employer can be required to pay the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees provides a strong incentive for aggressive plaintiffs attorneys to pursue these claims. In the face of this potential exposure, it is extremely important that employers ensure they are complying with the FCRA’s notice and disclosure requirements, as the basis for most lawsuits in this area stem from “technical” compliance issues.

Generally speaking, employers become subject to the FCRA by utilizing third parties to facilitate their background check process. This typically involves the third party service conducting a records search and providing the employer with some form of report or summary of the background check findings. The reports, summaries, or other documentation produced by these third party providers constitute a “consumer report” under the FCRA. Notably, employers do not need to receive a “credit report” in order for the FCRA to apply. Rather, under the FCRA, a “consumer report” includes any communication, whether oral or written, in which a third party (who regularly performs the same or a similar service for others) provides an employer with information about a person’s “creditworthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics or mode of living” for the purpose of determining that person’s eligibility for employment. Background checks generally constitute a consumer report. As such, in requesting a background check, employers generally must follow the steps required for obtaining a consumer report. Specifically, an employer must:

  • Provide the applicant or employee with a written notice, in a stand-alone document, that the employer may seek and use a consumer report;
  • Have written authorization from the applicant or employee to ask for the consumer report; and
  • Certify to the consumer reporting agency that the employer has complied with the FCRA, including verifying that the applicant or employee has been provided with the necessary notice and the employer has received proper authorization to request the consumer report.

After receiving the consumer report, if the employer decides to take an adverse employment action (i.e., refuse to hire, terminate, etc.) based on information in the consumer report, the FCRA imposes an additional set of requirements. First, before taking the adverse action, the employer must provide the applicant or employee with a copy of the consumer report and a copy of a notice document entitled “A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act,” which is issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”). After the employer has taken the adverse action, it must then provide the applicant or employee with notice that the action was taken based on information in the consumer report. The FCRA requires that this notice contain the following:

  • The name, address, and telephone number of the consumer reporting agency (including a toll-free telephone number if it is a nationwide agency) that provided the report;
  • A statement that the consumer reporting agency did not decide to take the adverse action and is not able to explain why the decision was made;
  • A statement detailing the applicant’s or employee’s right to obtain a free disclosure of his or her consumer file from the consumer reporting agency if he or she requests the report within 60 days; and
  • A statement setting forth the applicant’s or employee’s right to dispute directly with the consumer reporting agency, the accuracy or completeness or any information provided by the agency.

As noted above, the risk of class action litigation should serve as a strong motivator for employers to review their background check procedures and ensure that they are complying with the FCRA. Again, the Petco case provides a useful illustration of how important it is that an employer fully complies with the FCRA, as Petco will have to pay over $1 million because it allegedly did not provide applicants with the notice required by the FCRA. It is important to remember that although many employers outsource their FCRA compliance to third parties, the employer remains ultimately responsible, and therefore ultimately liable, for any FCRA violations. As an additional note, on September 12, 2018, the CFPB published an interim rule which included a new form of “A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act” which must be provided to applicants or employees before an employer takes an adverse employment action. As such, all employers should confirm that they are providing the most up-to-date FCRA notices and disclosures to applicants and employees.

For questions related to compliance with background checks or other employment law matters, please contact a member of the Koley Jessen Employment, Labor and Benefits Practice Group.

Attorneys

Practice Areas

Back to Page

We use cookies on our website to improve functionality and performance, analyze website traffic and enable social media features. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our use of cookies.