Alabama HR guidance for practitioners.
Pick a topic below to see the federal rule, the AL statute, and the practitioner steps Ask HR AI walks you through in a session.
Alabama at a glance
- Report lookback: 7 years (FCRA default; no state cap). Alabama has no state statute shortening the FCRA seven-year reporting window for arrests or non-convictions, and convictions may be reported indefinitely.
- Ban-the-box: Public sector only. There is no statewide private-employer ban-the-box statute. State agency hiring removed the conviction question in 2016.
- Salary history: No restriction. Alabama has no statewide salary-history ban.
- Cannabis: Medical only; tested freely. Medical cannabis is permitted under SB 46 (2021) but there is no employer off-duty-use protection. Employers may continue to test and disqualify based on a positive THC result.
Alabama topics
FCRA adverse action in Alabama
The two-step FCRA adverse action process: pre-adverse notice with a copy of the report and Summary of Rights, a reasonable waiting period, and the final adverse action notice.
Read the AL guideBan-the-Box and Fair Chance hiring in Alabama
When employers may ask about criminal history, individualized assessment requirements, and the state and city ordinances that add rules on top of federal EEOC guidance.
Read the AL guideWage and hour in Alabama
FLSA exempt vs non-exempt classification, overtime rules, meal and rest breaks, off-the-clock work, and state daily-overtime rules that overlay the federal floor.
Read the AL guideLeaves and accommodations in Alabama
Coordinating FMLA, ADA reasonable accommodation, workers' comp, pregnancy accommodation, and state paid family and medical leave programs.
Read the AL guideDrug testing and marijuana in Alabama
Pre-employment, reasonable-suspicion, and post-accident drug testing across states with off-duty cannabis protections and safety-sensitive carve-outs.
Read the AL guidePay transparency and pay equity in Alabama
State and city pay range disclosure laws, pay equity analyses, and how to respond to an applicant's compensation question.
Read the AL guideHarassment prevention and training in Alabama
Mandatory sexual harassment training in CA, NY, IL, CT, DE, ME, WA — plus prevention policies, complaint channels, and Faragher/Ellerth defenses.
Read the AL guideBackground check basics for HR in Alabama
What a compliant employment background check includes, FCRA disclosure and authorization, and how to interpret common report components.
Read the AL guideRelated SafestHires resources for Alabama
- Alabama background-check rules — the underlying state-screening reference.
- Alabama FACIS healthcare screening — Medicaid exclusion and licensing boards.
- All states — jump to another state.