Depending on the type of business you run and the type of position you’re looking to fill, you may have more options than you think. In “How to Employ the Formerly Incarcerated to Help Grow Your Business,” a recent article on Entrepreneur.com, Carol shares some suggestions around hiring “second-chancers.” Carol begins:
There are a few realities that business owners face today. One is that with a tightening labor market, it is harder to find employees. Second is that organizations that have social missions, along with a great product and/or service, are more attractive to many prospective employees and customers.
With that, I came across an emerging trend that sits squarely between these realities. More businesses are hiring “second-chancers”– that is, those who have been incarcerated and are now are back in the workforce.
While some businesses may view those with a criminal record as a big risk, experts have showcased some of the great outcomes. To learn more about this movement and some best practices for your business if you want to hire a second-chancer, I spoke with second-chancers advocate and chief investment strategist of Fifth Third Bank, Jeffrey Korzenik, over email.
How did you get involved with “second-chancers” — bringing those with criminal records back into the workforce — as a cause?
Korzenik: As the son and grandson of immigrants, I always think of America as the land of second chances, and it always struck me as tragic and wrong that so many of our fellow citizens have been denied the opportunity to rebuild their lives. As the father of sons who attended diverse Chicago Public schools, I was also sensitized to differences in backgrounds that meant stupid mistakes of youth could have outsized consequences. But, it really took two things to come together before I tackled this in a formal way: meetings with several organizations that provide employment for ex-offenders and, second, a consistent refrain about the lack of available workforce from our business-owner customers.
You can read the rest of the post here.
