Ban the Box - barring employers from viewing criminal history

[UK2K]

Nationwide, over 100 cities and counties have adopted what is widely known as “ban the box” so that employers consider a job candidate’s qualifications first, without the stigma of a criminal record. Born out of the work of All of Us or None, these initiatives provide applicants a fair chance by removing the conviction history question on the job application and delaying the background check inquiry until later in the hiring.

So... banning employers from seeing a prospective candidates criminal history. Good idea, or nah? This just happened in Philly so now I have to... well, make sure they are in compliance.

Personally, if you've been a piece of shit in the past, I'd like to know about it. Seeing as how its really, really easy to go through life without being convicted of a serious crime. I mean, really easy. You almost have to try.

According to this guy, hiring ex cons is awesome:


At an event in Oakland for employers to discuss reentry issues, one business owner spoke to the personal benefit he finds from hiring people with records. “I’ve seen how a job makes all the difference,” says Derreck B. Johnson, founder and president of Home of Chicken and Waffles in Oakland. “When I give someone a chance and he becomes my best employee, I know that I’m doing right by my community.”

At least he feels good about it. Them feels. Mmmmmm.

So, yay or nay?

[Akrazotile]

Good lord :facepalm

I guess the alternative would be, applicants make an effort to either write a personalized letter or request a moment of the supervisor's time to explain his situation, and why it would be worthwhile to take a chance on him, while still allowing the employer to access the info he needs to make the best decision for his business.


But yeah... That wouldnt be fair at all... :rolleyes:


(You know Deuce, Orange&blue, kniokas etc are behind this shit 100%.)

[Labissiere]

I think employers should be able to view criminal history. Maybe there could be restrictions, like certain types of jobs don't need to know about marijuana convictions that are 10 years old, or old petty theft crimes. Make it so they can see anything recent and anything significant or relevant to the job.

[Dresta]

Maybe a distinction on the type of crimes would be worthwhile; no need to ruin someone's prospects over a simple drug conviction. If you're hiring someone who has committed an unprovoked violent crime though, you should have every right to know about it before hand.

[UK2K]

Maybe a distinction on the type of crimes would be worthwhile; no need to ruin someone's prospects over a simple drug conviction. If you're hiring someone who has committed an unprovoked violent crime though, you should have every right to know about it before hand.

I haven't bothered to read the whole notice yet, haven't had the time... but I agree, to an extent you don't really need to know.

But if someone was convicted of theft, I'd sure like to know before I have them close out my till at the end of the night.

[warriorfan]

Good lord :facepalm

I guess the alternative would be, applicants make an effort to either write a personalized letter or request a moment of the supervisor's time to explain his situation, and why it would be worthwhile to take a chance on him, while still allowing the employer to access the info he needs to make the best decision for his business.


But yeah... That wouldnt be fair at all... :rolleyes:


(You know Deuce, Orange&blue, kniokas etc are behind this shit 100%.)

"If I can't get a job. No one should."
-Akrazotile

[LJJ]

I think employers should be able to view criminal history. Maybe there could be restrictions, like certain types of jobs don't need to know about marijuana convictions that are 10 years old, or old petty theft crimes. Make it so they can see anything recent and anything significant or relevant to the job.

We have this. You want to work at a financial institution, you need to turn in a government record that says you haven't been convicted of any financial crimes. Want to work as a teacher, need to show a record you haven't been convicted of any kind of abuse or violence.

But say you want to work in a regular boring ass factory or some menial job, there is no criminal record they could ask for that would truly be relevant to the job, so they can't.

[UK2K]

We have this. You want to work at a financial institution, you need to turn in a government record that says you haven't been convicted of any financial crimes. Want to work as a teacher, need to show a record you haven't been convicted of any kind of abuse or violence.

But say you want to work in a regular boring ass factory or some menial job, there is no criminal record they could ask for that would truly be relevant to the job, so they can't.

Theft. Breaking and Entering. Assault.

You would hire a person without knowing whether or not they are guilty of those things?

Even in a 'push the button to make it go' factory, that employee is still responsible for shit.

I think your criminal record is a great indication of what kind of person you are. How do you handle authority? Can you obey simple ****ing laws? How reliable are you? It's not JUST the criminal history, its what the criminal history says about you.

[Funktion]

Criminal record is one thing, but the fact that they can look at peoples credit reports to make hiring decisions is dogshit.

[UK2K]

Criminal record is one thing, but the fact that they can look at peoples credit reports to make hiring decisions is dogshit.

Unless you do, literally, anything where you ever come in contact with money.

People with bad credit and a ton of debt are more likely to take bribes. Thus, why you can be eliminated from consideration for the border patrol just like that.

Cause I know for a fact cartels use credit reports to find out which officers are struggling financially.

[PWB15]

Hell no I'm not working with excons

[tmacattack33]

Nay

It is up to the hirer to decide if he thinks the candidate has changed his/her life around.

Some might give people a second chance. Some might not. It is their decision though and they need to be informed.

You might as well allow people who apply to professional schools to take away all their bad grades on their transcripts...or be able to hide cheating and suspensions and whatever.

[LJJ]

Theft. Breaking and Entering. Assault.

You would hire a person without knowing whether or not they are guilty of those things?

Even in a 'push the button to make it go' factory, that employee is still responsible for shit.

I think your criminal record is a great indication of what kind of person you are. How do you handle authority? Can you obey simple ****ing laws? How reliable are you? It's not JUST the criminal history, its what the criminal history says about you.

Yeah that's what the criminal system is based on here. You serve your punishment and then you have a chance to get your life back on the rails and participate in society as a regular person. I think punishments for violent crimes here are usually much too lenient, but that part of the criminal justice system is good.

Unless someone's crime is specifically related to their work, so it would be an increased risk factor.

Not letting a convict participate in society is only going to increase the risk of them committing more crime.

There is a reason America has the highest incarceration rate, highest rates of recidivism and career criminals and just the highest rates in crimes across the board of anywhere in the modern world. Letting convicts back into society with nothing and no real chance of finding a job is one of those reasons.

[dkmwise]

Nay

It is up to the hirer to decide if he thinks the candidate has changed his/her life around.

Some might give people a second chance. Some might not. It is their decision though and they need to be informed.

You might as well allow people who apply to professional schools to take away all their bad grades on their transcripts...or be able to hide cheating and suspensions and whatever.

LOL, that is a great point

[Akrazotile]

Yeah that's what the criminal system is based on here. You serve your punishment and then you have a chance to get your life back on the rails and participate in society as a regular person. I think punishments for violent crimes here are usually much too lenient, but that part of the criminal justice system is good.

Unless someone's crime is specifically related to their work, so it would be an increased risk factor.

Not letting a convict participate in society is only going to increase the risk of them committing more crime.

There is a reason America has the highest incarceration rate, highest rates of recidivism and career criminals and just the highest rates in crimes across the board of anywhere in the modern world. Letting convicts back into society with nothing and no real chance of finding a job is one of those reasons.


Well, nobody is saying they cant be hired or allowed to work again. If you need a construction crew and someone was convicted of, say, misdemeanor stalking of his ex girlfriend 9 years ago, you probably dont care and will hire him if he can do the job. If you need someone to work the register in a women's boutique and youve got a guy arrested for exposing himself to women 18 months ago... You may wanna think twice.

I dont think everybody is qualified for every job. Background checks are part of the process. What if a bank is hiring a teller who has repeated larcenies on his record?? And they have no way of knowing?

I just dont think its fair at all to people who have to hire for their own businesses, big or small, which is their property and their livelyhood.

[stalkerforlife]

Criminal HISTORY should play no part in current hiring. It's really sad that so many people, including myself, can't work or live at certain places due to some mistakes in my PAST.

It's a phucking joke to hold the past against someone.

And you wonder why criminals sometimes become life long criminals.

[ALBballer]

I don't think someone that made a mistake in their past should continue to pay for their mistakes. I guess there could be some exceptions but if we want excons to integrate back into society we should stop putting them at a disadvantage .

[iamgine]

If anything applicants with criminal history should be required to put "I HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD" in front of their resume, the same as sex offenders have to inform their community.