Reducing stress by taking time away from work for personal, familial or other reasons. But when these people return, they often encounter barriers that make finding their footing more difficult than anticipated.
Central Ohio businesses have taken notice of reentering citizens as an underutilized talent pool and are helping them make the leap into fulfilling and productive careers. Their efforts are paying dividends.
Joe DeLoss, founder of Hot Chicken Takeover, saw an opportunity in helping reentry adults - many with criminal records or other disqualifying circumstances - reenter the workforce. Furthermore, hiring these individuals could help businesses grow while simultaneously improving their bottom lines.
Hot Chicken Takeover believes in providing people who were previously imprisoned, homeless and addicted with access to tools, support and opportunities in order to become successful entrepreneurs. In this spirit, they offer their employees referrals for mental health counseling and housing services; emergency cash assistance services as well as savings-matching programs.
Shannon Wilson is an ex-prisoner and executive coordinator for Hot Chicken Takeover who credits their job with changing her life. Prior to working at Hot Chicken Takeover, Wilson spent 15 years behind bars for drug abuse before being released with no clothes, money or food to start over from zero again.
“She was fortunate enough to find help at Kindway Embark, an organization which assists reentry individuals in finding employment. With their assistance she applied for various jobs until a representative from Hot Chicken Takeover announced an open hiring policy - she applied and now holds down an occupation as a dishwasher at this popular chain restaurant! Since joining Hot Chicken Takeover two years ago she’s become more productive at work.”
Employment Barriers for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
Employment is key to successful reentry, as being able to earn a living can reduce crime and incarceration while contributing to overall well-being and improving quality of life.
Criminal backgrounds of formerly incarcerated individuals present various barriers to employment, including discrimination and stigma. Furthermore, they may lack the necessary experience and skills for work than their peers with more specialized qualifications and experience. Common obstacles include limited job options available as well as no training programs to prepare them for new positions.
After being released from prison, former prisoners may enter low-paying or unskilled industries such as construction. A recent study conducted in Milwaukee revealed that most individuals with criminal backgrounds found employment in such roles.
As a result, many former prisoners must seek employment in lower-paying, less secure jobs like fast food or retail sales - which often come with substance abuse issues or mental health concerns that put them at increased risk of reoffending.
At times, former prison workers can participate in work-release programs upon their release from incarceration. Such programs have proven highly successful at improving job retention and reducing recidivism by giving individuals opportunities to gain work experience, build resumes and save money - however not enough people are able to take advantage of these programs due to space and building restrictions.
Reentry success can be measured through several measures. Finding employment, accessing support services and avoiding further criminal or violent activity are all integral parts of reentering society successfully. To promote successful reentry efforts in New York State, employers should be informed about employment laws and financial incentives for hiring former prisoners as well as be provided with resources that help guide their hiring decisions.
State policies should encourage small and mid-sized businesses to hire former prisoners by offering wage subsidy programs with financial incentives for hiring these individuals, including wage subsidies ranging from 25%-50% of salary of candidates hired from prison. Such subsidies give these candidates an “in” to see how well they perform before deciding if full-time positions should be offered or not.
Hot Chicken Takeover’s Social Impact
Hot Chicken Takeover in Columbus, Ohio provides second chances through supportive employment to men and women who require supportive employment opportunities. Their employee retention rate of over 70 percent surpasses even industry benchmarks; employing men who have faced obstacles like imprisonment and homelessness as employees.
Hot Chicken Takeover’s social impact goes beyond employees and customers alone. Joe DeLoss, its founder and head fryer, has always seen community involvement as essential to successful entrepreneurship. From early on selling stolen pantry items out of his family wagon to hosting magic shows and transporting senior citizens - Joe learned first-hand what it meant to give back.
In 2013, while traveling through Nashville he witnessed its famed fried chicken culture. Inspired by this experience he decided to open Hot Chicken Takeover’s first location in Columbus’ Olde Towne East neighborhood where it quickly gained a reputation for juicy, perfectly-fried chicken coated in cayenne-infused paste.
He soon opened two more locations - Clintonville in Brooklyn and Easton Gateway at Easton Town Center - which have quickly become beloved among their communities and draw in an eclectic group of diners who gather around long tables to share a meal together.
Hot Chicken Takeover’s Fair Chance Employer benefits include referrals to mental health counseling and housing services, emergency cash assistance programs and savings-matching schemes for its employees. These initiatives are intended to assist employees in stabilizing their lives while becoming more self-reliant - in turn helping them perform at their peak when working.
DeLoss credits his success as a business model developer to taking employee needs into consideration and creating a business model that serves both its mission and financial goals. For instance, he’s taken steps to reduce company turnover rate by offering employees unique benefits and giving them more control over their careers.
Hot Chicken Takeover is an example of the rise of social-enterprise businesses aiming to meet customer needs and community concerns. This trend is propelled by an intention to expand stakeholder involvement in business decisions as well as an increasing awareness that businesses can have positive effects on both society and the environment.
Hiring Men and Women in Need of Supportive Employment
Hot Chicken Takeover may be best known for their Nashville-style fried chicken, double ma’s mac and cheese with banana pudding chaser and coleslaw; but what really sets this Columbus restaurant apart is their commitment to fair chance employment. Over the last 10 years, founder Joe DeLoss has worked to build a social enterprise model focused on fresh food production while simultaneously working towards empowering those affected by poverty or imprisonment.
The business is known for its low turnover rate, yet also offers unique benefits to support their workforce, such as mental health referrals, housing assistance, emergency cash and savings matching programs. All these amenities help employees feel they have an environment where they can grow professionally.
While these programs may seem unconventional, they’ve proven successful for Hot Chicken Takeover’s team members and most participate in them, according to the company.
DeLoss was previously an investment banking analyst and entrepreneur before founding Hot Chicken Takeover, so she understands the impact of restaurant hiring practices on those with criminal backgrounds. Over 90 percent of businesses utilize background checks as screening methods; those with criminal records face a 50 percent reduced likelihood of finding employment.
Fair chance hiring policies - offering individuals with criminal backgrounds the chance to work - have made significant strides forward. Not only are these initiatives providing employment opportunities but they are also helping reduce stigma associated with being imprisoned or having arrest or probation records.
Hot Chicken Takeover’s approach has proven extremely successful at combatting high turnover rates by employing people with disabilities or criminal histories, which has garnered increasing recognition. For them, this strategy has made an extraordinary difference.
DeLoss prides himself on having built a dedicated, hardworking team at his restaurant that has garnered the respect of both staff members and community members alike. He knows his model won’t work without hard work on all fronts; therefore he remains dedicated to hiring team members with dignity and treating them accordingly.
In Conclusion
Hot Chicken Takeover has successfully created a business model that prioritizes both social impact and financial success. By hiring individuals with criminal records or other disqualifying circumstances, the organization has provided them with employment access and supports their well-being by offering referrals for mental health counseling, housing services, emergency cash assistance, and savings-matching programs. Hot Chicken Takeover’s approach has proven effective, with a high employee retention rate of over 70 percent. It serves as an example of how social enterprises can have a positive impact on both society and the bottom line.
The success of Hot Chicken Takeover highlights the importance of creating opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment, such as those with criminal records or experiencing homelessness. While these individuals face numerous employment barriers, including discrimination and stigma, initiatives like fair chance hiring policies offer them the chance to work and reduce the likelihood of recidivism. By advocating for fair employment opportunities for all and encouraging small and mid-sized businesses to hire individuals with criminal records, we can help individuals successfully reenter society, reduce crime and incarceration rates, and improve overall well-being.
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