The unprecedented momentum and benefits of second chance employment
How one business coalition is changing perceptions of people with criminal records
SHRM President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr., SHRM-SCP, a founding partner of the Second Chance Business Coalition
78 million people have criminal records. They get fewer interviews and have higher poverty rates.
Inspire business leaders to see the benefits of second chance hiring and empower them to practice it
35 major companies and groups forming a second chance hiring coalition, shifting perceptions of people with criminal records
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. saw a bigger way for businesses to do well by doing good.
As CEO and president of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world’s largest human resources professional society, he knew about two big problems. First, thousands of businesses were struggling to fill jobs. Second, millions of people with criminal records were struggling to find jobs. The solution: second chance hiring.
To put that solution into practice, he joined forces with Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase; Craig Arnold, CEO of Eaton; the Business Roundtable; and the Stand Together community to found the Second Chance Business Coalition. Together, we wanted to unite America’s biggest companies and help them hire and promote the best people for the job — including those with criminal records. Johnny knew it would be good for everyone and help society by connecting more people with economic opportunity.
Americans have a criminal record. That’s a quarter of the country. They shouldn’t be blocked from jobs.
The Second Chance Business Coalition Unites 35 Major Companies and Organizations
How do you build a coalition of major companies? SHRM, the Business Roundtable, Stand Together, JPMorgan Chase, and Eaton came together to unite some of the nation’s largest employers, including Virgin, Walmart, AT&T, McDonald’s, and GM.
“A criminal record should never be viewed as an automatic disqualification for employment. It’s time to put an end to the stigma that holds back inclusive hiring and retire outdated employment practices.”
Second chance hiring is a passion of ours at Stand Together. People are more than their records — they’re unique individuals with incredible potential. We’ve spent years striving to help them unlock that potential and make the most of their lives. Partnering with the Second Chance Business Coalition was an opportunity to strengthen our work.
But we saw something else, too: The coalition can help change how society views people with criminal records. It can inspire recognition that people who make mistakes shouldn’t be defined by them. Just the opposite: They should be empowered to rise. Learn more about how the Second Chance Business Coalition is changing perceptions of people with criminal records.
The coalition united 35 businesses, including some of the nation’s largest employers — Virgin, Walmart, AT&T, McDonald’s and GM.
Our partnership with SHRM, SHRM Foundation, and the Second Chance Business Coalition covers a lot of ground:
Johnny wanted major companies and organizations to join the coalition. Stand Together became a founding member, providing funding and encouraged our community of 700 business leaders and philanthropists to get involved.
He wanted to create resources to help coalition members practice second chance hiring. The Stand Together community worked with SHRM and SHRM Foundation to sponsor research, create a national pledge, and support the Getting Talent Back to Work digital hub and a practical toolkit for companies and other organizations.
He needed to understand why businesses avoid hiring people with criminal record. The Charles Koch Institute, part of the Stand Together community, conducted a poll that surfaced corporate views, pain points, and openings for progress.
When people are given a fair opportunity to participate in the workforce, our economy and society are stronger. Hear from the co-chairs of the Second Chance Business Coalition.
The Second Chance Business Coalition is doing incredible work. It now unites 35 major companies and organizations, including AT&T, Bank of America, Best Buy, Cisco, CVS Health, Eaton, General Motors, Prudential, Mastercard, McDonald’s, PepsiCo, Verizon, and Walmart. And more big names are constantly joining. They’re committed to expanding second-chance hiring and promoting, and they’re now equipped with the resources to do it. They’re also taking that message to their colleagues and communities.
Best of all: The perception of people with criminal records is shifting. With every year, more companies are willing to hire them. And the coalition is far from done.
Of HR professionals are willing to hire people with criminal records — up from 37% in 2018
What You Can Do to Support Second Chance Hiring
Learn More: Explore how we’re working with a wide diversity of partners to transform the way our society tackles criminal justice.
Partner With Us: Tell us about your project and vision — and how we can help you accomplish even more.
Get Involved: Find out how you can join Second Chance Business Coalition and tap into qualified talent for a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce.
