IT’S ESTIMATED THAT 1 in 3 American adults HAVE A CRIMINAL-JUSTICE INVOLVED PAST.
I’ve been rejected by employers because of my history and so that’s why I think I’m so grateful and thankful for Frontier... Now I have my own place, I just bought a new car, I have support, I have hope. I have positive influences in my life, positive people. Getting out of that bad, negative environment and those people. Here I was able to start over and start fresh.
SECOND CHANCE HIRING PRACTICES At Frontier Co-op, we firmly believe that people deserve a second chance — an opportunity to prove themselves and start fresh. Because of this, we’ve worked with the Sixth Judicial District in Iowa to adopt Second Chance Hiring Practices. As a part of these practices, we do not include a box on our job applications asking about prior felony convictions. If a candidate makes it through the entire interview process, we typically only find out about any past charges or convictions during a background check. As long as the convictions are not related to violent crimes or sex offenses, the candidate is still eligible for hire. Anonymity is important to this program’s success, so this information is never shared with the employee’s supervisor or peers, or even with management. Through these fair hiring practices and our policy of anonymity in our Breaking Down Barriers to Employment pro- grams, employees are given a truly new start. When they come to work at Frontier Co-op, they start a new path, free of any bias against them either by their supervisor, management, or their peers. They’re given the opportunity for a fresh slate, and to prove themselves based on their hard work and dedication from that moment out, without the burdens of their past. It can truly be life changing for these employees.
“I believe that everyone has a story and that story or past should not define who they are. Because of this, I believe the work we do around Breaking Down Barriers to Employment is important. Through this program we are able not only to make an impact on individuals’ lives, but we are also building a more sustainable local community as well.” — Megan Schulte, VP of Human Resources
– Alisia Weaver, Operator
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