Portland Business Alliance Supports Banning Criminal History Check Box on Job Applications
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Monday, March 09, 2015
Lianna Palkovick, GoLocalPDX Contributor
The Portland Business Alliance, Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME), and the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber announced today that they support "banning the box" on employment applications to open up job opportunities to individuals with criminal backgrounds. The "box" is the section on many employment applications which asks whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime of been incarcerated.
The "box" is the section on many employment applications which asks whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime of been incarcerated.
"We understand that many qualified individuals are turned away from potential employment simply because they honestly disclosed a criminal history on an employment application," said Sam Brooks, OAME founder. "Banning the box shifts the conversation about criminal histories off the application and into the interview process, so that applicants and potential employers will have an opportunity to discuss the circumstances."
Although "banning the box" can open up employment opportunities to many potential applicants, there are questions as to how restrictive legislation should be.
"[Employers] must balance a need to ensure the safety of their employees and their customers by thoroughly screening job applicants. Banning the box makes sense, but employers need flexibility to review applicant backgrounds during the interview process," said Sandra McDonough, president and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance.
The proposal being considered by Portland City Council would severely limit employers' abilities to conduct criminal background checks - prohibiting them until a conditional offer of employment has been made - which business leaders say is too restrictive and could impede their hiring efforts.
"Pushing any opportunity for a criminal background check to the very end of the process, coupled with a private right to legal action if the applicant is not selected, seems to set up a process that could lead to contentious legal fights rather than creating more opportunities for work. There should be a different way to achieve the goals we all agree to, which is greater employment opportunities," said Gale Castillo, president of the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber.
There are still many details to be worked out, but Ban the Box legislation has been successfully passed in more than 50 jurisdictions and 10 states.
Oregon may soon join the list, offering everyone the opportunity for equal employment opportunities.
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