Jeff Korzenik, the chief economist at a major US bank, explains how predicting a labor shortage in the US led him to discover the growing movement around "second chance" hiring of people with criminal records. His passion for this work led him to write "Untapped Talent," a book that explains to companies the benefits of this type of hiring and offers a blueprint of how best to do it. Jeff describes how second chance hiring can transform lives and communities.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Jeff Korzenik's Work This chapter introduces Jeff Korzenik, Chief Economist and author of Untapped Talent, highlighting his unique background as a bank executive focused on hiring people with criminal records.

03:14 From Economics to Second Chances Jeff Korzenik explains how his work on second-chance hiring evolved from his economic research into labor force challenges, initially focusing on the opioid epidemic.

05:51 The Staggering Numbers of Incarceration Jeff outlines the immense scale of incarceration and criminal records in the United States, emphasizing how the U.S. is an outlier globally.

09:05 Creating Hope in Prison Jeff discusses the inherent unfairness of a system where a prison sentence can become a life sentence due to employment discrimination. He shares how his book, 'Untapped Talent,' is distributed to incarcerated individuals to instill hope and remind them that they are a valuable resource, not a burden, through the generous support of others.

14:15 Employer Barriers and Solutions Jeff addresses the common objections employers have to hiring individuals with criminal records: safety/liability, employee quality, and reputation risk. He explains that these concerns are valid but manageable through intelligent, business-based decisions, advocating for transparent and supportive hiring practices.

17:55 The Loyalty of Second Chance Hires Jeff highlights that successful second-chance hiring relies on traditional hiring models, adapted to understand and support candidates with criminal records.

23:23 Virtuous Cycle of Success Jeff explains the 'snowballing effect' of success in second-chance hiring, where companies known for fair chance employment receive high-quality referrals and build strong community relationships.

26:08 Empathy and Boundaries in Hiring Jeff advocates for people to visit prisons to humanize the incarcerated and understand their experiences.

33:28 Challenges Post-Release and 'Ban the Box' Jeff illustrates the immense hurdles individuals face immediately after release from prison, from securing basic necessities to navigating a changed world with minimal support. He explains why state-mandated 'ban the box' policies have often been ineffective, and instead suggests that voluntary removal of the box by truly committed employers sends a powerful, positive signal to job seekers.

39:17 Impact on Fellow Employees and Society Jeff discusses how to integrate second-chance hires into a company's workforce, emphasizing that transparency and context are key to addressing potential employee concerns.

43:43 Untapped Potential and Future Optimism Jeff expresses immense optimism about the future of second-chance hiring, despite being in the very early stages of leveraging this vast talent pool.

49:10 Resources and Multi-Generational Impact Jeff provides resources for companies interested in second-chance hiring, including the Second Chance Business Coalition and SHRM's 'Getting Talent Back to Work' certification. He underscores the profound multi-generational benefits of fair chance employment, emphasizing its role in breaking cycles of incarceration and fostering a virtuous cycle of community safety and economic prosperity.