FOOD CITY
National issues seen through the lens of San Francisco's restaurants
"Bias is the norm. Over 90 percent of overall companies use background checks; a criminal record reduces a job possibility by 50 percent, according to the Leadership Conference, an umbrella organization for American civil and human rights interest groups."
US Foods PROFESSIONALS EXPLAIN WHY THEY HIRE EX-OFFENDERS
Lisa Arnette
All photos of Mikey 2018 (Bottom Left 2014)
Felons in the Kitchen by Jack Hughes This is a look at what it is like to be a felon working in the California food industry. In any kitchen you are likely to find an employee with criminal records. The stigma that surrounds being arrested and having charges often causes employers to turn applicants away. It is something that everyday people are not exposed to but as a large group, employees with criminal records deserve to have media coverage.
A recent report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, based on data from thirty states, found that for every four inmates released in 2005, three were rearrested within five years.
Monica Burton
"Restaurants Can Be a Lifeline for the Formerly Incarcerated — and Vice Versa" Eater
“There’s such a stigma associated with [having a record] but that’s not something that ever enters the restaurant,” he says. “It’s not something we ever talk about. Once people are in the kitchen, they are treated like everyone else.”
Eater, "Restaurants Can Be a Lifeline for the Formerly Incarcerated — and Vice Versa"
Monica Burton
"The industry understands," he said. Robert Mann, who coordinates internships and job searches for the students, backed him up. "This is one of the most forgiving industries," Mann said. "If you're willing to do the work, they're willing to give you a chance."
The Culinary Education of Class 98 by Amy McKeever