Recruiting: Maine
Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.
Author: Matthew Tarasevich, Esq., Bernstein Shur Sawyer & Nelson
Summary
- Maine employers have a number of resources available to them in recruiting new employees. See Methods and Sources.
- The Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA) is broader than Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act and applies to all employers regardless of size. See Maine Human Rights Act.
- Maine has a ban the box law that limits preemployment criminal background inquiries. See Ban the Box.
- Employers may not print of publish a job ad that indicates a preference, specification or discrimination based on a protected category under the MHRA. See Job Advertisements.
- Misclassification of independent contractors is receiving increasing attention, and Maine has its own enforcement mechanism for misclassifying workers. See Independent Contractors.
- The Maine Department of Labor (DOL) sometimes imposes requirements regarding the hiring of minors different than those required under federal law. See Underage Workers.
- Maine law permits private employers to favor veterans in hiring decisions. See Veterans' Preference.
- Maine is among the states to ban discrimination against job applicants or employees based on their use of tobacco products outside of work. See Smokers' Rights.