New Bill Introduced To City Council Influences Credit Checks In Job Market
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Under a bill introduced into City Council this week, employers in Philadelphia would not be allowed to run credit checks on applicants for certain jobs.
Council president Darrell Clarke says the bill is part of an effort to level the playing field for job applicants who may have struggled in the past.
The bill would exempt employees whose credit history is relevant, such as those with financial responsibility like making payments, transferring money, collecting debts, jobs with law enforcement, or financial institutions. But Clarke says he found a range of other jobs where employers were doing credit checks.
"And we looked at it and said what relationship does that have to this particular job and we found more often than not that it has none," Clark said. So we're saying it should not be part of the application process."
With jobs growing again, in a city with a high poverty rate, Clarke says it's important to provide equal access to employment.