Jewel-Osco Stops Asking Job Applicants About Criminal History

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 9, 2014 4:30PM

DNAInfo Chicago has a wonderful story about how Jewel-Osco has stopped asking job applicants to disclose their criminal histories. The supermarket chain, which implemented the policy in March, joins a growing nationwide “Ban the Box” movement urging companies to cease having prospective employees divulge their arrest records, which for decades has made it difficult for ex-offenders to land gainful employment.

Jewel-Osco, in a statement, acknowledged the efforts of community group ONE Northside in making the change.

"We sincerely appreciate ONE Northside’s commitment to creating better workplace opportunities for citizens in Chicago and, as a longstanding corporate citizen, we value what their impassioned volunteer force is doing to improve our communities.”

The “Ban the Box” movement still allows employers to run background checks and deny employment to applicants but only after considering one’s education and experience. ONE Northside is lobbying for passage of HB5701, which would guarantee an employer would not inquire about a prospective employee’s criminal history until after being selected for a job interview or offered employment; the bill has the backing of Gov. Pat Quinn. Big box retailer Target stopped asking applicants for their criminal histories in 2013. The Baltimore City Council passed a “Ban the Box” ordinance last month and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a “fair chance” ordinance in February that will take effect in August.

Critics of the “Ban the Box” movement claim it infringes on a private business’s right to gather information on an applicant to ensure safety, and would be a waste of resources if a background check turned up an arrest on a prospective employee resulting in rescinding a job offer. But Brandon Johnson, a convicted felon who lives in Rogers Park, told DNAInfo Chicago not divulging his criminal history on a job application gives him "a chance to explain myself and sell myself to an employer who doesn't have the chance to assume who I am."