Hiring Laborers With A Past?

Mykey44

I advertised in the paper for a laborer. After choosing one and calling to give him the job and time to start. He calls me back a little later to tell me he has to meet his parol officer twice a month. I said okay and ask him if he didnt mind telling me what he had done. He said it was theft. I am a little concerned because we leave a few tools locked up in the house when it gets to the finishing stage that we are in. Question is would you hire him knowing the past?

mdshunk

I'd ask him for the number for his parole officer, and have him give the parole officer permission to speak with you. The parole officer is in a much better position to help you evaluate your potential risk. It's kinda their job to help these fellas get back into society.

dougchips

We conduct criminal back ground checks, so our answer would be no. I believe that x-cons deserve a second chance.....with my competition.

747

I wouldn't worry about that. He probably will turn out to be a excellent employee. Finally. If he just got out of prison find out if your state has the program that will allow for you to write the first 5,000 dollars of his salary off on your income taxes. I know illinois has that program. I don't know to much about it. His parole officer would know.

Melissa

Good question. I've been wondering the same thing. We were just referred to someone who has a lot of skill, but he's got a lot of baggage. He's upfront with us, but how much can you really invest in someone like this, who might have to spend time in jail, do community service, court appearances and so on.

mdshunk

If you're doing new work or commercial construction projects, it doesn't matter (to me) what the guys background is, as long as he seems to have his act cleaned up now. I would not hire for or send a criminal to a homeowner's house for a service call or a remodel job.

reveivl

He not only has a past, but also a future...

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dougchips

Reveivl, that statement can be taken several ways.

Do you mean history will repeat itself?
or
The past is the past and the future is the future.

Debookkeeper

That's a tough one - but based on my GC's experience - I say No. He gave a couple chances and he got burned. He informs everyone he does background checks - and they usually open up and offer their info. Then again - you could just be hiring someone who has never been caught

Mike Finley

Total agreement.

You're already basically playing a game of russian roulette hiring a person with no criminal back ground, why the hell would anyone knowingly take that gun and stuff 4 more bullets into the 5 remaining empty cylinders?

I would have no problem with anybody that wanted to help guys like this out as long as they included in their advertising "we hire criminals" and make it a policy to tell each and every customer, "by the way, I'm going to be bringing a convicted criminal into your home, is that okay?" at least then you are not forcing unnecessary risks on other people.

Now besides all that, legally if you go down this road and take these guys into people's homes you better be prepared for the consequences if things go wrong, because you will get your ass sued off if a lawyer gets even a little sniff that you don't have any measures in place to protect homeowners from negligent hiring practices.

dougchips

DBK, we all (except me) have done things (generally while intoxicated) that (if we were caught) would have placed us in jail. Generally the smart ones don't get caught<---under this *assumption* would you hire a dumb dumb that got caught?

If I ever get caught my attitude towards x-cons will change.

Debookkeeper

Ha! So you were lucky enough to never have a mug shot eh? Nope - wouldn't hire a dumb dumb. If you don't have the time - don't do the crime. Right? Can you see someone like me going on an interview and informing them I had to check with my parole officer because of theft? Me thinks I would have to find a new line of work!!

reveivl

"Reveivl, that statement can be taken several ways.

Do you mean history will repeat itself?
or
The past is the past and the future is the future."

When I wrote it, I meant that if no-one hires ex-cons they will become future cons too, because everyone has to eat somehow. Mike has a valid point, but I don't think you need to say "We hire criminals". You do, however, have to feel good about who you are hiring and trust them to a certain level. If you can't, for whatever reason, do that, then you shouldn't hire them.

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From where does knowledge come? If you need to know what is in a box, you could ask someone (not reliable), you could pray, (not useful), you can consult with the scripture (not helpful) or you could open the box (science)

dirt diggler

im pretty much against "rehabilitation" ... well, not "against" it -- i just don't believe in it and don't wish my tax dollars paying for it

however,

I've worked with two ex felons (two different jobs) and they were some of the nicest and hardest working guys i've known. I still see one of them from time to time. He's doin fine.

and do not tell me that contradicts what I said above that. I'm well aware that it does, yet, hold fast to it.

I still prolly wouldn't. Like someone said -- you already gotta weed through the numnuts who haven't done time

dougchips

#1 dbk you should have posted your article in here instead of the new thread--would of made a point.

#2 Reveivl, I agree that they need jobs. If they speak english then I would let them use me for a reference at my local Dunkin donuuts and gas station.

Debookkeeper

You lost me... what article? what thread?

dougchips

http://www.contractortalk.com/f11/contractor-facing-charges-swindling-elderly-couple-789-000-a-14122/ I thought you posted it, I was wrong. It is about a crook taking some dough off the old people.

Debookkeeper

Good! I thought I was losing it for a minute.

JNLP

I would speak to parol officer before making a choice. Maybe he stole a 30k ring, or maybe it was something simple like taking something he payed for but was in the girlfriends name, and she found out he was cheating so screwed him as revenge. Who's to say if it was serious or if it was harmless without finding the full story first. Or he could be in my case, a guy I know was drunk & stupid is stole something once off the side of the road as a joke. The police saw me though in the area so I spent the night in jail, paid the fines, and got it on my record now. Those little things where you really did no harm but still get big punishments happens more than you'd think. So I guess you never know till you know the story. If he is bad news though, I'd tell him to join the burger flipping club.

joasis

My wife is a probation and parole officer, and we have access to any information about employees with a history you can imagine. The problem as I see it is the mentallity that ended them up in jail is baggage they can't shed well....I have hired 6 ex felons, and only 1 was worth a sh!t...and guess where he is this morning? Yep...facing 20 to life for DUI and possesion after a former felony convition...


I doubt I will hire any more convicted persons...too much headache..and yes, I agree they need jobs, but I don't have the answers either.

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