Businesses have an opportunity to address racism by implementing a practice called fair chance hiring, which is based on the premise that everyone, regardless of background, has the right to be fairly assessed for a role they are qualified for. While it is true that black men are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of white men, the truth is, when they aren’t given a fair chance at obtaining a job following their release, they will likely return to a life of crime. There are studies that show that employment is the single most important factor in reducing recidivism, but it isn’t possible under current hiring conditions. Businesses who are interested in building a fair chance program should consider the following steps: create an intentional hiring plan, connect with local partners to find top fair chance talent, conduct a skills-based interview and fairly assess charges.
