In the Balance: Seeing a Person Rather than a Record in Second Chance Employment Opportunities
In connection with recent discourse centered on social justice, an inherent tension has come to light regarding the employment of formerly incarcerated individuals and disparate impact for minority communities. As employers who wish to be progressive weigh the benefits of providing a “second chance” to such individuals against legal risks that come along with inviting candidates with criminal backgrounds into their workforce, careful consideration should be made to balance the risks of potential legal claims with the potential individual and community rewards. Armstrong Teasdale Partners Travis Kearbey and Ramona Palmer-Eason will join SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. and Concordance Academy EVP Head of Education and Job Readiness Dr. Rod Nunn, as they share key challenges that minority communities face in employment, and action items to eliminate unconscious bias around criminal history and provide a fair chance for employment.This program has been approved for 1.2 Missouri Ethics/Elimination of Bias Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits.
