REDI - Re-Entry Development Initiative
From left: Sarah Pawlicki, Matt Grafton, Jeffrey Korzenik, Lisa Bloomfield, Brian Dicken
“The Toledo Chamber is doing an impressive job in understanding the workforce challenges faced by businesses today. The Chamber is one of the leaders nationally in its focus on reentry, offering viable solutions to the labor shortage, with practical tools and a realistic approach. This work offers great promise, not only for the businesses your serve, but for the entire Toledo community.”
Jeffrey D. Korzenik
Senior Vice President | Chief Investment Strategist
Fifth Third Bank
Jeffrey D. Korzenik
Senior Vice President | Chief Investment Strategist
Fifth Third Bank
For any company, there are a variety of factors that impact their bottom line—sales, inflation, the political climate, the economy, and even the availability of great workers.
One of the biggest challenges facing businesses is a shortage of labor. The economy is seeing record levels of job openings compared to job seekers, across many industries. That’s due to a variety of factors, including the retirement of Baby Boomers as they age out of the workforce. From 2015 to 2035, the biggest group of working-age adults—those born in the U.S. whose parents were born in the U.S.—is expected to drop by 8%, or 8.2 million workers, according to PEW Research. As part of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s talent alignment strategy, it was learned that between 2010 and 2017 23,000 jobs were created in the region. During that same time, the workforce participation decreased by 9,000 people.
Because of these and other factors, employers are now considering communities with potential barriers to employment that may have been looked over in the past, including those who have a criminal background.
Why should an employer consider hiring someone with a criminal background? Surveys conducted by the Chamber and other studies show that compared to the general workforce, these individuals have lower turnover rates, lower absenteeism, higher retention rates, and higher loyalty. That results in lower training and turnover costs for your business allowing your business to continue to grow and be successful.
In response to requests for assistance from members in 2017, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce created the Re-Entry Development Initiative (REDI) to provide assistance in the area of fair chance hiring. The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce strives to make the region a preferred place for diverse talent and economic opportunity. Assisting employers by helping them to expand their potential talent is one way that we are working to achieve that goal.
One resource available to employers interested in hiring those with a criminal background is the Chamber’s Fair Chance Hiring Guidebook. Here we highlight resources such as incentives and support, compliance considerations, and additional support available to employers. This guidebook is meant to serve as a resource and not intended to provide legal advice when considering fair-chance or other hiring practices. You are encouraged to work with your legal counsel to discuss specific situations and circumstances.
Oct. 7, 2020: VIDEO: Portman Touts RIDGE Project, Toledo Chamber’s Efforts to Reduce Recidivism
One of the biggest challenges facing businesses is a shortage of labor. The economy is seeing record levels of job openings compared to job seekers, across many industries. That’s due to a variety of factors, including the retirement of Baby Boomers as they age out of the workforce. From 2015 to 2035, the biggest group of working-age adults—those born in the U.S. whose parents were born in the U.S.—is expected to drop by 8%, or 8.2 million workers, according to PEW Research. As part of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s talent alignment strategy, it was learned that between 2010 and 2017 23,000 jobs were created in the region. During that same time, the workforce participation decreased by 9,000 people.
Because of these and other factors, employers are now considering communities with potential barriers to employment that may have been looked over in the past, including those who have a criminal background.
Why should an employer consider hiring someone with a criminal background? Surveys conducted by the Chamber and other studies show that compared to the general workforce, these individuals have lower turnover rates, lower absenteeism, higher retention rates, and higher loyalty. That results in lower training and turnover costs for your business allowing your business to continue to grow and be successful.
In response to requests for assistance from members in 2017, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce created the Re-Entry Development Initiative (REDI) to provide assistance in the area of fair chance hiring. The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce strives to make the region a preferred place for diverse talent and economic opportunity. Assisting employers by helping them to expand their potential talent is one way that we are working to achieve that goal.
One resource available to employers interested in hiring those with a criminal background is the Chamber’s Fair Chance Hiring Guidebook. Here we highlight resources such as incentives and support, compliance considerations, and additional support available to employers. This guidebook is meant to serve as a resource and not intended to provide legal advice when considering fair-chance or other hiring practices. You are encouraged to work with your legal counsel to discuss specific situations and circumstances.
Oct. 7, 2020: VIDEO: Portman Touts RIDGE Project, Toledo Chamber’s Efforts to Reduce Recidivism
Be on the lookout for announcements on updates to the guidebook and events centered on fair chance hiring. Below are pictures from past REDI events
