This month, SHRM celebrated Second Chance Month by featuring a series of blogs from business owners—many of whom were formerly incarcerated themselves—and workplace influencers writing about hiring those who have criminal records.
Second Chance Month highlights the need to improve re-entry for citizens returning to society and reduce recidivism. One of the primary ways to achieve this is by providing an opportunity for gainful employment, since studies show the single most important predictor in recidivism is joblessness.
Here at SHRM, we’re working on creating second chances through the Getting Talent Back to Work initiative, launched earlier this year. To sign the Getting Talent Back to Work pledge, and to access the toolkit with information on how to create second chances at your company, visit GettingTalentBacktoWork.org.
We hope that reading these inspiring and informative pieces will motivate you to consider hiring someone with a criminal record, as well as give you some tips on best practices to get started.
If you have a great story to share about giving or receiving a second chance, or if you would like to be involved with this initiative, please contact us.
Second Chance Series
- 4/4/19: “What Employers Need to Know About Successful Second Chance Hiring”
– Cheri Garcia, Founder & CEO, Cornbread Hustle
- 4/11/19: “With All the Applicant Tracking Systems and Artificial Intelligence Why Would I Invest in a Non-Traditional Applicant?”
– Lisa Wingfield, Executive Director, Madeit Foundation Inc
- 4/15/19: “Just One Job: A Testimonial From Harley Blakeman”
– Harley Blakeman, Founder & CEO, HonestJobs.co
- 4/16/19: “Background Screenings and Second Chance Employment - 3 Tips for Success”
– Genevieve Martin, Executive Director, Dave’s Killer Bread Foundation
- 4/16/19: “Looking Past the Trees - Getting Talent Back to Work”
– Erin M. Stevens, Corporate Recruiter, MasterBrand Cabinets
- 4/19/19: “Three Reasons People in Drug Recovery Can Make Great Employees”
– Cheri Garcia, Founder & CEO, Cornbread Hustle
- 4/25/19: “Three Tips to Provide a Positive Workplace Environment for Employees in Alcohol Recovery”
– Cheri Garcia, Founder & CEO, Cornbread Hustle
- 4/26/19: “How a Second Chance Culture Helps Employees Succeed”
– Genevieve Martin, Executive Director, Dave’s Killer Bread Foundation
- 4/27/19: “Solving the Skills Gap Through Prison to Workforce Pipeline”
– Michelle Cirocco, Chief Social Responsibility Officer, Televerde
- 4/28/19: “How One Background Screening Company Supports Second Chances”
– Sabrina Schnetzer, HR Solutions Journalist, SELECTiON.COM®
- 4/29/19: “Second Chance Hiring – How Employment Can Change Someone's Life”
– Teisha Sanders, Project Director, Institute for Justice Research and Development
- 4/29/19: “Hiring People with Records: The Economic Imperative“
– Jeff Korzenik, Chief Investment Strategist, Fifth Third Bank
- 4/30/19: “Super Charge Your Talent Acquisition Plan by Hiring Those with Criminal Backgrounds”
– Christina Melton Crain, Esq., Founder and President/CEO, Unlocking DOORS®
Second Chance Month, which falls in April each year, highlights the need to improve re-entry for citizens returning to society and reduce recidivism. One of the primary ways to do this is by providing an opportunity for gainful employment.
To sign the Getting Talent Back to Work pledge and access the toolkit with information on how to create second chances at your company, visit GettingTalentBacktoWork.org.
Rose Gebken is a Senior Specialist on the Corporate Communications team at SHRM.
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