Fair Chance Business Plegde

A pledge to considering applicants with criminal records

What is Fair Chance Business Pledge?

In response to the high levels of unemployment among those with criminal records, a number of businesses have pledged to "ban the box" on job applications. This means that potential employees will not be asked about their criminal history until they are interviewed for the position. Supporters of this policy argue that it gives people with criminal records a fair chance to be considered for employment. They say that employers should not be allowed to automatically exclude someone from consideration because of a past conviction.

Critics of the policy argue that it makes it harder for businesses to screen potential employees. They say that employers need to know about an applicant's criminal history in order to make an informed decision about whether or not to hire them. Companies which signed the 2015 Obama White House Fair Chance Pledge are committed to improve their communities by eliminating barriers for those with a criminal record and create a pathway for a second chance by conducting Fair Chance Hiring Practices such as:

• Banning the Box by delaying criminal history questions until later in the hiring process;
• Training human resources staff on making fair decisions regarding applicants with criminal records;
• Ensuring internships and job training are available to individuals with criminal records;
• Using reliable background check providers to help ensure accuracy;
• Hosting a Fair Chance and Opportunity Job Fair

They may also contribute to their local community such as:

• Supplying tools for success (business clothing, cell phones, internet service, transit cards, or child care services);
• Offering support to regional reentry facilities;
• Providing mentors to children of incarcerated parents.

There is no guarantee that the companies signed the pledge will hire felons because each companies might have revised their policy for the hiring process and the pledge itself was made in 2015. However, it is probably still a good start for you to search for a job from the list of employers that signed Fair Chance Business Pledge.