Level up for Fair Chance Employment: Confronting Criminal Record Bias

Workplace Application:

Attendees will dig into the roots of pervasive unconscious bias regarding criminal record and learn best practices for an inclusive path forward.

1 out of 3 Americans of working age have a criminal record in some form, and the associated barriers to employment and other collateral consequences are experienced disproportionately in Black and Latinx communities. SHRM's Getting Talent Back to Work campaign recognizes the power of the Human Resources profession to leverage the vast under-tapped talent pool among 'Second Chance' or 'Fair Chance' hires, yet research shows that there is still a long way to go.

Learning Objectives:

• Nonpartisan data points on racial disparities in the criminal legal system
• Awareness of media messaging that creates a false binary between 'criminal' and 'non-criminal' populations
• Knowledge of best practices in building Fair Chance inclusive cultures through each stage of the employee life cycle Fair Chance Etiquette: Concrete 'Do' and 'Don't' Tips from Fair Chance Employees
• Opportunity to strategize on action steps applicable to the unique context of your business, industry, and region