The Workforce Solution:
D.C. Employer’s FAQ for Second Chance Hiring
Are you a D.C. employer who is struggling to fill open positions? Do you own a business you are trying to scale up but you need to hire talent? You need The Workforce Solution!
This valuable resource will answer your questions about the legal requirements, financial incentives, and protections available to you as an employer looking to expand your applicant pool through second chance hiring. Second chance hiring is the practice of hiring people with criminal records, including those who have experienced incarceration, otherwise known as “justice-impacted.”
Justice-impacted people in DC are a crucial untapped workforce solution for your business. Read through the FAQ to learn more and contact us for help!
A few of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) included in The Workforce Solution
What is a criminal record? What other terms should employers be aware of when using second chance hiring practices?
Is there any law that would prohibit a business from hiring someone with a criminal record?
Are there any tax benefits available to businesses for hiring justice-impacted people?
Are there any programs available to help train or mentor justice-impacted people before hiring or once employed?
Are there any protections available for businesses from theft or fraud when hiring justice-impacted people?
If a business is ready to hire justice-impacted people, where can they find more information and resources?
You can read and download the full publication here. Flip through a few key questions from the FAQ:
Is there any law that would prohibit a business from hiring someone with a criminal record?
No. There are no laws, D.C. or federal, that would prevent the hiring of someone with a criminal record. Read more here!
Are there any tax benefits available to businesses for hiring justice-impacted people?
Yes. The federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit may be claimed by any employer that hires eligible individuals with a felony conviction within a year of the day the person was convicted of a felony or released from prison after serving a felony sentence. Read more here!
Is there government funding available to help with hiring justice-impacted people?
Yes. The D.C. Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs has previously offered an Access to Jobs grant that covers a portion of the salary paid to returning citizens a business hires. Read more here!
Are there any protections available for businesses from theft or fraud when hiring justice-impacted people?
Yes. The Federal Bonding Program provides fidelity bonds for hard-to-place job seekers that protect employers against employee fraud or dishonesty in the first six months of employment at no cost to the employer. Read more here!