Can I Get Fired For Filing Bankruptcy?
If you are contemplating filing for bankruptcy you may be wondering how it will affect your job. This is understandable because while you do want to get rid of your debts, you do not want to lose your job. The good news is that you cannot get fired for filing bankruptcy because federal law prohibits an employer to discriminate against you for declaring personal bankruptcy.
Your constitutional rights protect you from being fired for filing bankruptcy. In fact, it is a violation of your rights, not to mention a crime, to fire someone for filing bankruptcy.
If anything, once your debts are discharged through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or a proposed payment plan is approved through a Chapter 13 filing, you will sleep better, feel less stressed and will be able to better concentrate at work.
Additionally, if creditors are threatening you with liens, it may be a wise step to file for bankruptcy to freeze any type of collection action against your paycheck.
It’s a vicious cycle: You lose your job, causing you to fall behind on your mortgage, car payments and other bills. As a result, your credit suffers. You finally land an interview with good prospects, but a credit check costs you the job.
You need employment to improve your finances, but it’s your finances that are holding you back from employment.
Some legislators are taking steps to prevent this situation from occurring. Recently a House bill was introduced that would prohibit employers from using consumer credit checks to make adverse employment decisions.
The Equal Employment for All Act (H.R. 3149) would amend the Fair Credit Report Act and prohibit employers from making hiring decisions based on an applicant’s consumer credit report. The Act makes exceptions for financial firms, government agencies and jobs that require certain security clearances.
The bill was introduced by Representative Steve Cohen from Tennessee. According to Cohen, the bill would provide some of our country’s “most vulnerable, ‘credit challenged’ citizens” the chance to start rebuilding their credit by getting a job.
Supporters of the bill do not believe that a person’s credit history is a reflection of how they would perform on the job. Critics of the bill, however, point to the vulnerability of small businesses to employee theft, citing the bill’s limited exceptions as a cause of concern.
To read more on the Equal Employment for All Act, click here for the complete article from the U.S. News and World Report.
Regardless of whether the bill passes, one thing remains certain: an experienced Texas bankruptcy attorney is the best source of advice for consumers facing credit difficulties. A Texas bankruptcy lawyer can explain your options and help you make decisions that will get you back on the road to financial stability.
Many people are in a financial situation where bankruptcy may be their only option for a fresh start but they are hesitant because they don’t want to ruin their chances of getting a job. Coupled with a troubled economy, it’s no wonder people are doing everything they can to keep or get a job.
A common question Dallas area bankruptcy attorneys hear is whether an employer can discriminate against an employee or a job applicant due to a bankruptcy. The good news is that Section 525 of the Bankruptcy Code prohibits private employers from terminating employees or discriminating with respect to employment solely because a person: (1) is or has been a debtor in bankruptcy; (2) has been insolvent prior to filing bankruptcy but before receive a grant or denial of a discharge; or (3) has not paid a debt what was dischargeable or was discharged in bankruptcy.
Another question bankruptcy attorneys get asked is whether they should reveal their bankruptcy to their employer or a prospective employer. In this economy, it can be expected that employers will be more selective and perform pre-employment background screening. How you respond depends on a variety of factors and a bankruptcy attorney can advice you on your rights and obligations regarding bankruptcy.
