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> Once you have been in jail its really hard to find a decent job And that's another aspect that needs addressing, and can be done regardless of legal/politica

> Once you have been in jail its really hard to find a decent job And that's another aspect that needs addressing, and can be done regardless of legal/political changes. Someone's been in jail/prison? Then they apply for a job with your company when they get out? Categorically denying them employment without regard to their previous offense is silly, although it's definitely policy at some (many?) companies. Helping people get back to a 'normal' life is something we all can take part in in various ways - not closing the door on applicants is another thing we can do.

mancerayder 9y ago
Someone's been in jail/prison? Then they apply for a job with your company when they get out? Categorically denying them employment without regard to their previous offense is silly, although it's definitely policy at some (many?) companies. Helping people get back to a 'normal' life is something we all can take part in in various ways - not closing the door on applicants is another thing we can do. I agree, and here's the thing. Almost all companies I've worked for in the past decade have done drug testing and background checks on me, so if I had had issues in my youth I wouldn't have been hired. And this is IT, I wasn't applying to be a police officer, lawyer, or crane operator. Pass laws to RESTRICT companies from doing these types of unjustified checks (or have them justify them) instead of unlocking the prisons and letting criminals out. That communities are destroyed is a powerful argument, but I'm sorry, I don't need gangsters running around in my neighborhood. I'd much prefer they serve their time, and be able to work wherever they want (within reason) once they're out. But in the U.S. we feel that businesses should have much 'freedom' as we call it, to hire and fire unimpeded. So there's the impasse.
- Noos 9y ago
  It's all unjustified to you until you actually have someone who steals to support their drug addiction, threatens coworkers, commits violence, or worse. So many people here seem to love the idea that drug users are these innocent people wrong by society, but it's usually because they are already insulated from them in their workplaces. All it takes is someone high behind the wheels of a forklift to understand why these policies are in place, or someone in charge of industrial machinery showing up drunk or stoned or worse. Or a nurse who essentially robs the hospital blind to feed an addiction.
  - mgkimsal 9y ago
    The point I was calling for was to start using some degree of common sense vs blanket "zero tolerance" policies wrt hiring. Someone who was let out of prison 3 days ago with a record of violent/armed robbery is very likely not the same sort of potential problem as someone who did 6 months in prison 23 years ago for possession of marijuana.

mancerayder 9y ago

Someone's been in jail/prison? Then they apply for a job with your company when they get out? Categorically denying them employment without regard to their previous offense is silly, although it's definitely policy at some (many?) companies. Helping people get back to a 'normal' life is something we all can take part in in various ways - not closing the door on applicants is another thing we can do. I agree, and here's the thing. Almost all companies I've worked for in the past decade have done drug testing and background checks on me, so if I had had issues in my youth I wouldn't have been hired. And this is IT, I wasn't applying to be a police officer, lawyer, or crane operator. Pass laws to RESTRICT companies from doing these types of unjustified checks (or have them justify them) instead of unlocking the prisons and letting criminals out. That communities are destroyed is a powerful argument, but I'm sorry, I don't need gangsters running around in my neighborhood. I'd much prefer they serve their time, and be able to work wherever they want (within reason) once they're out. But in the U.S. we feel that businesses should have much 'freedom' as we call it, to hire and fire unimpeded. So there's the impasse.

Noos 9y ago
It's all unjustified to you until you actually have someone who steals to support their drug addiction, threatens coworkers, commits violence, or worse. So many people here seem to love the idea that drug users are these innocent people wrong by society, but it's usually because they are already insulated from them in their workplaces. All it takes is someone high behind the wheels of a forklift to understand why these policies are in place, or someone in charge of industrial machinery showing up drunk or stoned or worse. Or a nurse who essentially robs the hospital blind to feed an addiction.
- mgkimsal 9y ago
  The point I was calling for was to start using some degree of common sense vs blanket "zero tolerance" policies wrt hiring. Someone who was let out of prison 3 days ago with a record of violent/armed robbery is very likely not the same sort of potential problem as someone who did 6 months in prison 23 years ago for possession of marijuana.