Second Chance Hiring Toolkit | Now Available!
At the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation (CHEF), our mission has always been to support the growth and sustainability of our state’s restaurant and hospitality workforce. That mission has expanded even further thanks to our partnership with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and the US Department of Labor through our allocation of the Growth Opportunities 5 grant. With this grant, we will implement the national HOPES (Hospitality Opportunities for People (re)Entering Society) Program in Connecticut. HOPES has been successful in 8 other states and is expanding to 4 more states through the GO5 Grant. The HOPES Grant contains funds that are allocated to support workforce development for individuals who have faced barriers to employment by helping them access the training, support, and job opportunities that they need to thrive. These individuals are most often justice-involved individuals, and grants like HOPES create opportunity for these groups to move forward towards a successful career.
However, we know that for second chance hiring can be difficult for employers to navigate, especially if it’s something new. At CHEF, we know employers need the right tools to help these individuals and their own business be successful.
That’s why we’re providing a Second Chance Hiring Employer Toolkit, created by the Second Chance CT Business Coalition, now available on our Workforce Solutions page directly on our website. This resource was created to help restaurant and hospitality business owners confidently and effectively welcome justice-involved individuals onto their teams.
The toolkit includes:
- Best practices for building inclusive hiring strategies
- Legal and HR considerations for employers
- Guidance on workplace culture that supports second chance hires
- Access to local and statewide resources to support employee success
Whether you’re just starting to explore second chance hiring or are looking to strengthen your current efforts, this toolkit offers detailed steps and valuable insights to help your business lead with purpose and make a real impact in your community.
Second chance hiring isn’t just good for individuals, it’s also good for business. Employers across the country are discovering the loyalty, motivation, and long-term potential that justice-involved individuals bring to the table. We hope this toolkit can help hospitality leaders across Connecticut take the next step toward inclusive hiring and workforce development.
Explore the full toolkit here.
*This web page was created by the CRA/CHEF and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor or the U.S. Department of Justice. The Departments of Labor and Justice make no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This web page content is copyrighted by CRA/CHEF.