You should strongly consider all of your options before you file for bankruptcy. There are potential drawbacks to going through this process after all. However, one thing that this decision should not really affect is your ability to get a job. Anti-discrimination laws do protect you to some extent, and employers rarely believe that turning down a prospective employee solely because of a bankruptcy filing is a good idea. A Rockland County Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer can tell you more about this before you decide to file.
Can a Bankruptcy Prevent Me From Getting a Job?
In most cases, no. Filing for bankruptcy should not prevent you from getting a job. There are some laws in place that protect filers and make it more difficult for employers to discriminate against someone with bankruptcy on their record. A government employer is not allowed to deny employment to someone just because of bankruptcy.
When you apply for a job with a private employer, your bankruptcy might come into play. If you are applying for a position where you work with money, like in an accounting or payroll department, it is possible that having a bankruptcy on your record will affect your prospects. However, you are not necessarily disqualified from holding such a position and there are so many other factors that can affect whether or not you prevail in a hiring process that can involve many other applicants. It’s also important to note that, depending on what kind of job you are applying for, your credit and bankruptcy might not be a factor at all.
Can Filing For Bankruptcy Affect My Current Job?
Whether you are employed in the private or public sector, an employer is not supposed to discriminate against you just because you filed for bankruptcy. If they find out about your filing, they cannot reduce your salary, fire you, or demote you and take away responsibilities solely because of it.
Can I Just Avoid a Background Check?
So if you don’t want a potential employer to find out about your bankruptcy filing, it seems like there’s an easy solution. Yes, your filing is public record, but you have to consent to a background check so that they can find it. If you don’t consent to this probe, then they can’t find out, right?
Well, while bankruptcy filers have some protections against discrimination, a job applicant who does not consent to a background check does not. What this means is that not consenting to a background check can actually give a potential employer a good reason, and a legally protected one, to throw out your application.
Talk to Our Bankruptcy Attorneys
If you want to learn more about the pros and cons of filing for bankruptcy, our lawyers can answer all of your questions. Contact the Lauterbach Law Firm and schedule a consultation with our team today.
