Dive Brief:
- In a move he believes will advance "the continuation of Michigan's comeback," Governor Rick Snyder announced the felony question will be removed from applications on the state's employment site, NEOGOV. Snyder is encouraging private business to remove the box on their applications or move the question to later on in the hiring process, as well.
- An affirmation of good character will replace the felony conviction box on said applications, similar to what is currently used on licensing applications. The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) sponsors two Vocational Villages — training centers that prepare inmates for skilled jobs after their release. The Governor is working with MDOC to determine if an entrant to the program meets the moral character licensing determination. Removing the felony question could open the Vocational Village to offer even more trades in the program.
- The hope is to offer a second chance to Michiganders who are skilled and ready to work in jobs employers are desperately seeking to fill. The state's recidivism rate "has never been lower," and employers are seeing the advantages of giving these candidates a second chance, according to the state's Lieutenant Governor. The state is also launching a talent attraction and retention campaign in response to its strong economic growth.
Dive Insight:
It's been 20 years since the first "ban the box" law was enacted in Hawaii, and a majority of states, cities and counties have followed suit with some form or another to stop employers from eliminating possible hires before they've had a chance to be interviewed and tell their stories. Most legislation allows for the question to be asked later in the interview process, typically only after a conditional offer of employment has been made. And in a tight talent market, more employers are looking for "alternative" talent pools that could give them a leg-up on the competition.
The challenge for many employers is compliance with the spirit as well as the letter of the laws, while balancing their own business needs. Recent settlements outline how outdated practices may come back to haunt companies whose applications don't reflect the newest legislation, and it will likely only get more complicated, lawyers previously told HR Dive: "It's a fascinating problem because right now with the #MeToo and #TimesUp environment you may be more likely to be denied employment because of an allegation than a conviction," Tim Garrett, a member of the firm at Bass, Berry & Sims, said.
Like other states, including neighboring Wisconsin, Michigan and its employers will have to work hard to attract and retain talent from within the state, its many university alumni and neighboring Illinois and Indiana to keep pace with growing pressure on businesses to hire.