PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A bill to ban employers from asking job applicants if they have a criminal record until they have been offered a job - or reached the list of finalists - would set the stage for an onslaught of "frivolous lawsuits,'' according to the National Federation of Independent Business.
The so-called "Ban the Box'' legislation is slated for a hearing at the State House on Wednesday.
Advocates for the bill say a criminal record is a barrier to landing a job.
But NFIB Rhode Island State Director Bill Vernon said the bill illustrates why "Rhode Island is its own worst enemy'' when it comes to jobs and the economy.
"It's important for employers to know the character of the people they may be trusting with their money, their property, certain financial information and the safety of their customers and employees.''
"Employers make their decisions based on multiple factors but you can bet that some candidates are going to claim in lawsuits that their criminal records were wrongly used against them," he said. "It just...creates another opportunity for trial lawyers and plaintiffs to seek a payday by suing small businesses."
"Small business owners don't need moral instructions from politicians in Providence,'' he said.