Posted on 12/13/2013 5:19:09 AM PST by YourAdHere
During the last city council meeting for 2013, Councilman Nick Mosby (D-District 7) introduced “Ban the Box,” a bill that would bar prospective employers from asking, in the initial job interview, if a job applicant has a record of criminal arrests or convictions.
On Dec. 5, Mosby said omitting the criminal conviction-check for applications and interviews would help more Marylanders obtain employment and give them the opportunity to re-enter the workforce.
“This legislation will provide a level playing field for people who have experienced criminal convictions in the past,” Mosby told the AFRO. “Many of our citizens have been convicted …This makes people discouraged about the whole job process and doesn’t give them a fair shot to compete.”
He said his proposed legislation, known as Ban the Box, would force employers to judge an applicant’s credentials and job experience, rather than their criminal past.
Mosby’s bill would prevent employers from running a background check until after the interview. If passed, employers under the bill could not require an applicant to disclose whether they have a criminal record, conduct a criminal background check or make any inquiries about a criminal past.
He told the AFRO that many Marylanders, not just in Baltimore, are rejected because of a criminal history.
According to the introduction to Mosby’s legislative proposal, “individuals with criminal records suffer from pervasive discrimination in many fundamental areas of life including: employment, housing, education and eligibility for many social benefits.”
“Hopefully this will help citizens gain employment because a lot of people are unemployed,” he said.
Mosby said he hopes to have a hearing on the bill by mid-February.
“Right now people aren’t getting a shot at all. Their application ends up in the trash,” he said.
“With my legislation, at least they get a chance to put their foot in the door to sell themselves and then the employer gets a chance to make an objective decision based [on] the presentation that the person provided to them in their interview.”
The measure, if enacted, would apply to private employers with 10 or more employees and would not force employers to hire anyone with a criminal record. If enacted, Baltimore would join the list of U.S. cities to address discrimination against ex-offenders with legislation.
“This gives people the opportunity to fight and compete for jobs that should be available to them,” said Mosby.
As if a criminal past isn't pertinent.
"I see you are looking to be hired as our new CFO, Mr. Madoff. What have you been doing for the past five years?"
"Nothing."
Maryland's employers will simply do more background checks.
“Mr. Gacy, I see that you are looking for a position as director of our pre-school system. What is your experience in that area?”
“Well, I worked as a clown for a while.”
This bill will work just fine, for the cons. They will threaten discrimination, if not hired, then they will proceed to clean out the place when they do get hired.
As if Maryland doesn’t have enough honest workers out of jobs we need to hire criminals.
Guess the race of Mr. Mosby.
Guess what race he wants to help with jobs in Baltimore.
Guess what race commits the most crime in Baltimore.
Now remember it doesn’t make Mr. Mosby a racist to try to hide a convicts record, but it does make me a racist for opposition to his plan.
You racist!
What is more ironic is that the same Black politicians that support this type of thing are the leaders in the amnesty movement which would kill any chance at employment even if they could hide their criminal past.
“Hopefully this will help citizens gain employment because a lot of people are unemployed,” he said.
Won’t help the unemployment rate at all since those with convictions will replace those hired without. Zero sum.
So an employer would have to waste time and money processing the applications of these folks, and interviewing them, when they already know they are not going to hire them?
This bill essentially makes employers play games.
Next you will see a law that says you must hire the convicted criminal if his qualifications are the same as other applicants...diversity...
Sticks and Stones LOL.
And when the new employee rapes, steals and murders the EMPLOYER is held accountable.
Here’s an idea for the afros: don’t commit the crime in the first place.
I want a level playing field too - for the honest, law-abiding non-violent citizen who has followed all the rules and now can’t find a (**synonym for fornicating**) job.
so you run a child care business and you’re not allowed to determine if a potential employee is a pedophile?
gotta love liberalism.
“Mosby’s bill would prevent employers from running a background check until after the interview. If passed, employers under the bill could not require an applicant to disclose whether they have a criminal record, conduct a criminal background check or make any inquiries about a criminal past.”
Another politician that has no idea about the interviewing process that most “career oriented” businesses employ. In his mind a person is offered a job after a simple single interview. When in reality, the interview process for employers can be very lengthy and expensive. There should be a phone intro interview, an in person interview, a social setting interaction, and on and on. In these cases it costs thousands of dollars for the company and a lot of man hours...
Yet, the political elite think that this cost can just be “sucked up” by the evil corporation interested in profiteering off the back of the people! We can’t have employers streamlining their processes to ensure that the only folks that are interviewed, thus costing thousands of dollars, are the folks that could eventually be hired!
"Convicted? No, never convicted."
Agreed.
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