SCHA Releases New Publication - The Workforce Solution: D.C. Employers FAQ for Second Chance Hiring

Todlay the Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA), an initiative of the Council for Court Excellence, released its latest publication: The Workforce Solution: D.C. Employers FAQ for Second Chance Hiring.

‍The Workforce Solution is targeted at D.C. business owners who are struggling to fill open positions or are looking to scale up and need talent. This valuable resource answers questions about the legal requirements, financial incentives, and protections available to an employer looking to expand their applicant pool through second chance hiring. Second chance hiring is the practice of hiring people with criminal records, including those who have experienced incarceration, otherwise known as “justice-impacted.”

D.C.’s Work Shortage is classified as “Most Severe” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, with only 45 available workers for every 100 open jobs. In D.C, one in seven adults has a publicly available criminal record, and the employment rates for justice-impacted residents are estimated at 30-50%. Justice-impacted people in D.C. are a crucial untapped workforce solution for businesses. In fact, 85% of human resource professionals and 81% of business leaders report that individuals with criminal records perform the same as, or better than, employees without criminal records.  

For employers who are unsure where to start with second chance hiring, this publication provides a jumping off point with answers to the following questions and more:

- What is a criminal record? What other terms should employers be aware of when using second chance hiring practices?

- Is there any law that would prohibit a business from hiring someone with a criminal record?

- Are there any tax benefits available to businesses for hiring justice-impacted people?

- Are there any programs available to help train or mentor justice-impacted people before hiring or once employed?

- Are there any protections available for businesses from theft or fraud when hiring justice-impacted people?

- Can an employer ask about arrest records, charges, or convictions as part of job applications?

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If you own a business, hire staff, or know those who do, we hope that you will share this invaluable resource with them!

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