Progressive hiring practices can help formerly incarcerated people and communities as a whole.
One example is Greyston Bakery, which started in 1982. The bakery’s goal is to employ individuals who faced significant barriers to employment. The company’s hiring process is called “open hiring”, and interviews, background checks, are resumes are not required to get the job.
Instead, the company believes that everyone deserves a chance to improve themselves and their communities. From donations and the sale of their brownies, profits go to the Greyston Foundation. In addition to hiring people with records the company also provides low-income housing, day care open to the community, and medical assistance.
The bakery hires from a waitlist, eliminating background checks and interviews. Once a person’s name is up they are offered a paid apprenticeship, above minimum wage, that often leads to a permanent position.
According to the company’s website, “We unlock the power of human potential through inclusive employment, one person at a time.”
Their vision is to provide employment opportunities to those facing barriers to employment and aim to address the underlying causes of employment challenges. They’ve also opened the Greyston Employment Opportunity Center (GEOC), with access to training and education programs, youth services, and transitional employment services.
Greyston also provides re-entry services for people with records, including workforce training in correctional facilities before release then an eight-week post-release training program which helps people develop skills and transition to a full-time job while getting paid.
The company also offers training and certifications in business, construction, security, hospitality, and tech. In addition, they also provide social services to help with re-entry challenges outside of work.
The company also teaches the benefits of hiring people with records and guides businesses in mentoring, data collection, and recruitment services.
The Greyston Foundation takes donations and sells a variety of brownies.
