Justice Champion Spotlight: Jeff Korzenik on Untapped Talent

When did you begin advocating for fair hiring practices? Was there a particular moment or experience that drove you to get involved?

This was a gradual process, and all driven by my professional need to understand critical economic trends. Around 2013-2014 there was a big focus on how people were “missing” from the labor force and how that was limiting U.S. growth. I focused on the “why” and quickly came to understand that social ills were impacting the labor force and economy in ways we had not seen since World War II: long-term unemployment, the opioid epidemic and the incarceration recidivism cycle. So, I understood the problem. I got a glimpse of the solution when I enjoyed a meal at the King’s Kitchen in Charlotte, North Carolina, and then was introduced to the North Lawndale Employment Network. That led me to meet with Dan Meyer and introduced me to the amazing work he has done at Nehemiah Manufacturing. I knew I had found a business solution that would serve the companies we bank and the communities we serve – what better role for a banker than that?

Why is it so crucial that businesses get involved in second-chance hiring? Why is it now more important than ever?

Ultimately, employment is foundational to giving people with records the chance to rebuild their lives, so the businesses need to be involved. Nonprofits and government bring unique and valuable skills to this societal problem, but job creation is the expertise of the private sector. It is in the business community’s interests as well – declining birth rates threaten labor force growth, a key component of economic growth, so the solution is to make sure we don’t waste human resources, and provide pathways for everyone to contribute to society. It’s also important because employees and customers increasingly expect the companies they work with to help solve societal problems. Finally, for various reasons, the ability of the free enterprise system to deliver the kind of society we want is being called into question, and the business community has a vested interest in showing that capitalism is very much part of building a better country.

What are some of the biggest barriers that people with criminal records face?

There are of course the hard barriers – there are more than 40,000 “collateral consequences” in the U.S. - codified restrictions regarding employment, professional licensing, housing, and even voting rights. I think the real issue is the stigma that somehow people with criminal records are “bad” people, forever defined by a mistake of the past. If we could get past that judgement, I think we’d have few collateral consequences and a better criminal justice system.

What inspired you to write your new book, Untapped Talent? What would you say is its central message?

I’m very committed to getting the word out that second chance/fair chance hiring is a viable and important talent pipeline. In 2019, I flew 141 flight segments, and simply couldn’t physically travel more to spread the word. I also realized that interested business leaders needed more in-depth guidance than I could provide through the articles I wrote, the speeches I delivered and the panel discussions I led. Writing the book, as big an undertaking as it was, was a way to leverage my time, my knowledge, and in particular the incredible lessons of the second chance employers whom I studied.

Why do you think employers are reluctant to hire people with criminal records? What would you say to them?

There are three main concerns: 1) safety/liability, 2) quality of work, and 3) reputation.  I would say to employers that there is validity in all these concerns, but like any other risk is business, this can be controlled or managed very successfully - but it requires a process to work right.  I never gloss over these concerns but address them head on and put them in a reasonable context.

Why should businesses be involved in providing meaningful second chances to justice impacted individuals? What makes it their responsibility?

As far as I’m concerned, businesses should do this because it is profitable to do so, period. This is business, not charity. Those that seize the opportunity to learn how to access this talent pool will have a decided competitive advantage over those that don’t. Demographics dictate that there is multi-decade war for talent ahead of us, and second chance hiring is part of a winning strategy.

If you had to pick one, what would you most want people to take away from Untapped Talent?

While requiring an investment, second chance hiring done right is an important talent strategy that delivers a highly engaged, loyal workforce. I also hope they appreciate the incredible business pioneers who invested so much and risked so much so others can learn from their example.