Opinion Pages Room For Debate: ”Should a Jail Record Be an Employer’s First Impression?"
Marlene Breverman stashed this in Society
The Obama administration has joined the “ban the box” movement, ordering federal agencies to eliminate job applications that have people check off whether they have a criminal history, and not asking about it until other qualifications have been reviewed. Twenty-one states and about 100 localitiesforbid this for either public agencies or private businesses. But critics say employers have the right to know of an applicant’s criminal record up front. What’s the best approach?
Stashed in: Crime!
DEBATERS
Keep Families and Communities TogetherDORSEY NUNN, ALL OF US OR NONE
Formerly incarcerated people aren't asking for special privileges, only a fair chance and access to everything that our tax dollars support.
Ban the Box Ignores Employers’ Legitimate ConcernsJUANITA DUGGAN, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS
An owner may spend weeks in the hiring process only to find a worker is disqualified because of his record. Lost time is lost income.
San Francisco Gives All a Fair ChanceZOË POLK, SAN FRANCISCO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
We were the first city to break down barriers to both housing and employment for people with arrest and conviction records.
Employers Are Left Liable for Negligent-Hiring LawsuitsKENNETH I. SONDIK, LAWYER
If states enact ban the box laws, they should also prevent companies from being sued over the damage caused by an employee.
Employers Should Decide on Their Own to Ban the BoxMARK HOLDEN, KOCH INDUSTRIES
It doesn’t make sense to reject an individual at the outset of the hiring process based on a past mistake, especially given the imperfections of the criminal justice system.
Ban the Box Could Unintentionally Hurt Job SeekersMICHAEL A. STOLL, U.C.L.A.
Employers without knowledge of an applicants’ record might refuse to consider those they think might have convictions, like young, less-educated, minority men.
Complex issue. There's no approach that's best for everyone, as these debaters show.
Nah, there's enough crooks in Government. There's also no sense wasting time on an candidate that you later aren't going to be able to hire, or in most cases shouldn't hire. If you have a felony, I think you pretty much lose your right to own a gun, vote on public officials or policy, or hold a position of trust for the public.
Forever? Or should there be a way to earn back those privileges?
4:36 PM Apr 13 2016