There’s a 50 percent chance that your business operates in a Ban the Box jurisdiction. Ban the Box laws, also known as Fair Chance Hiring policies, prohibit employers from asking candidates about their criminal history on job applications, and sometimes prevent employers from inquiring about criminal history until a conditional offer is made.
The first challenge is figuring out if your business is in a ban the box state or locality (or both), and if and how the regulations apply to your business. It can feel like a catch-22 because you’re also on the hook for negligent hiring and creating a safe working environment.
The good news is that the best way to be prepared for ban the box legislation is to adopt the same fair chance hiring practices that will give your business a competitive advantage as you seek to attract and retain the finest talent in your industry.
