Fair Chance Hiring is an incredibly impactful practice to take on, especially considering that one third of Americans have a criminal record. Here at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, we believe that we are not the worst of our mistakes. Therefore, we recruit businesses and nonprofit organizations to create an inclusive hiring practice that selects candidates on their qualifications, rather than reject them for their past mistakes.
In order to become Fair Chance Business Certified, businesses must:
- Remove all questions about criminal records from the initial job application form.
- Delay asking questions about criminal records until the applicant is given a conditional offer.
- Give applicants a chance to see any background checks you run.
The certification is free and open to any small business in the South. Certified businesses receive a free window sticker, and resources for creating effective fair chance hiring policies.
Complete List of Current Participants
- Boardwalk Capital Management
- Carroll’s Kitchen
- Céline and Company
- Communication Mark
- Community Empowerment Fund
- Durham Coop Market
- The Durham Ritz
- Eyes, Ears, Nose & Paws
- GIVN Goods Inc.
- Hip Replacements Clothing
- Human Kindness Foundation
- Ivory Road Cafe and Kitchen
- Kudzu Brands
- Men at Work Car Care
- Nugget Comfort
- Principal Janitorial Services
- PRC Apps
- Transylvania Vocational Services
- TS Designs
- Smitty’s Homemade Ice Cream
- The Suffolk Punch