Minnesota's health-care providers and professionals can register for a webinar on Minnesota's new Ban the Box law on January 23, at 10:30 a.m., the first in a series of seminars and webinars providing information and technical assistance. The new law took effect Jan. 1, 2014.
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the Department of Human Services are partnering to present the webinar. Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey will provide an overview of the new law and Human Services Inspector General Jerry Kerber will address the unique concerns of health and human services professionals in understanding its requirements.
The webinar will be live online at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 23, and a webinar video will be available at the MDHR website following the live event.
Register for the live event at:
For more information on how to participate, contact the Department of Human Rights -- email jeff.holman@state.mn.us.
"We know that many employers have questions about Ban the Box, and we will be partnering with other agencies throughout the year to reach out to employers and businesses in every corner of our state," said Commissioner Lindsey.
The Ban the Box law does not prevent an employer from considering an applicant's criminal history. The law does require employers to wait until a job applicant has been selected for an interview, or a conditional offer of employment has been extended, before asking the applicant about their criminal record or conducting a criminal background record check.
Employers in the health and human services fields may have questions specific to their areas, since by law those who have been convicted of certain crimes are excluded from some occupations. The Ban the Box law does not remove these legal requirements. "The new law does not change who needs a background study before working with children and vulnerable adults," said Inspector General Kerber, "but it does change when that background study is initiated and when questions about criminal history may be asked in the hiring process."
Watch the Department of Human Rights' website for further information on the January 23 webinar and future Ban the Box seminars and webinars.
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Contact: Jeff Holman at 651.539.1090 or Jeff.holman@state.mn.us
Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Communications Department Freeman Building, 625 Robert Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55155