© Reuters. An employee walks back to a Ralphs grocery store, owned by Kroger Co, before the company's results in Pasadena, California, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
By Daniel Wiessner
(Reuters) – California filed a lawsuit on Thursday against Kroger (NYSE:) Co subsidiary Ralph's Grocery Co, accusing it of violating state law by screening out hundreds of job applicants based on their criminal records.
The lawsuit, filed in state court by the California Department of Civil Rights (CRD), accuses Ralph's of violating a 2018 law that prohibits most employers from asking applicants about their criminal history before offering them a job. .
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for affected job applicants, for lost wages and benefits and mental and emotional distress, and punitive damages.
Ralph's, which operates more than 180 grocery stores in California, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kevin Kish, the agency's director, said in a statement that the law provides crucial protections to millions of people with criminal records.
“We cannot expect people to magically obtain the economic and housing stability necessary to reintegrate into their communities and remain out of the criminal legal system without a fair chance at stable employment,” he said.
The agency said the lawsuit is the first filed under the law, known as the Fair Chance Act. The law also states that employers can only reject potential employees based on their criminal record when their convictions are directly related to a job.
The agency said it has investigated hundreds of complaints alleging violations of the Fair Chance Act since the law was adopted and has secured about 70 settlements, including separate $100,000 settlements with a fire protection district and a construction company. .
The agency said it was unable to reach an agreement with Ralph's, prompting it to file a lawsuit.
