For millions of Americans, the past year’s upheaval has been immense, and the skyrocketing unemployment numbers at the pandemic’s peak highlighted just how many people were struggling to stay afloat. As things slowly return to normal and HR professionals look to fill open positions, there is an underrepresented population of qualified applicants they should consider: those with a felony conviction on their record.
For decades, the process of screening potential candidates has been dependent on a preemployment background check. This process, when used by itself, can eliminate millions of qualified applicants every year, leaving workplaces less diverse and keeping skilled candidates unemployed. It is time for employers to embrace fair chance hiring and experience the positive impact it can have on their companies, employees, and communities.
