OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (WXYZ) — Oakland County joins more than 150 cities and counties in adopting fair-chance hiring practices.
The new practice, "ban the box," will ensure that the county considers applicants qualifications before considering their arrest or conviction records.
The policy, led by Commissioner Nancy Quarles, will remove "the box" asking job applicants about their arrest and conviction records from Oakland County job applications. This makes the companies consider the applicant's qualifications first. The policy also encourages private employers and county contractors to adopt "ban the box."
“The ‘box’ discourages applicants from applying in the first place, and research suggests it can dismiss consideration for a job before their qualifications are all considered,” says Commissioner Nancy Quarles. “We created a fairer system that shifts job applicants from being just a number to being considered as a person. All applicants deserve a fair chance at getting hired.”
The policy was adopted at the board's June 2019 meeting and will go into effect by Aug. 1, 2019.
