Los Angeles bans the box

recently passed a ‘Fair Chance Initiative’ that will ‘ban the box’ from job applications. It will also delay a pre-employment background check until a conditional offer of employment has been made. The new law applies to all contractors doing business with the City, as well as any private business with more than ten employees. It takes effect January 1, 2017. “By passing the Fair Chance Ordinance we are knocking down one of the most pressing obstacles faced by formerly incarcerated and convicted people,” said AmberRose Howard, a community organizer with All Of Us Or None. “We are honoring the human dignity of those who have been disenfranchised for far too long by acknowledging that everyone deserves a fair chance at opportunities that will help enhance our lives. The city of Los Angeles is demonstrating what liberty and justice for all truly looks like.” In a major push to reform federal employment policies last year, President Obama signed an Executive Order that would prohibit federal employers from asking job applicants questions about potential criminal records until significantly later in the hiring process. This legislation in LA is just one of many over the last few years, with ‘ban the box’ spreading far and wide across the country. In fact, ‘ban the box’ policies have now been implemented in some form in 24 states. Take a look at our full reporting on the ban the box movement.]]>