Justice Champion Spotlight: The Body Shop
In September 2019, The Body Shop US trialled a purpose-led hiring initiative called ‘open hiring’. The program was initiated in the company’s North Carolina distribution center and was designed to eliminate biases that can occur in the hiring process by not asking irrelevant questions about applicants’ criminal records or educational backgrounds.
They immediately saw the benefits. Historically, the Body Shop struggled to recruit and retain the 200-250 seasonal employees they needed for production. However, since implementing Open Hiring, they have hired a total of 208 seasonal distribution center employees and have seen a significant decrease in employee turnover.
The benefits go beyond employee retention. The brand also saw a 13% KPI improvement in units per hour due to the high quality of dedicated talent they acquired. They are already working to extend Open Hiring to their retail stores.
Over 600,000 people make the difficult transition from prisons to the community each year. They often face insurmountable barriers to employment. Analysis shows that formerly incarcerated people are unemployed at a rate of over 27% — higher than the overall unemployment rate during The Great Depression.
It isn’t just about getting formerly incarcerated people into work. Studies show that immediate access to employment reduces recidivism. By adopting Open Hiring practices, businesses don’t just provide real second chances – they tap into new talent pools, increase productivity, and increase social mobility within their communities.
As the architect of the program, no one is more passionate about Open Hiring than Vice President of Human Resources Trish Patton. She says:
“It’s about connecting the business case to the company purpose – easier hiring, reduced costs, less turnover, improved productivity but also the brand being a force for good...Through Open Hiring, we are breaking down societal expectations and doing what’s right – providing a fair and equal opportunity for all people.”
It also isn’t just about people with criminal records. Open hiring is a model set to remove ALL biases during the hiring process. This includes often overlooked groups like those who haven’t had a formal education, parents who have been out of work and are looking to re-join the work force, the elderly and more.
RBIJ is honoured to partner with The Body Shop as they work to provide meaningful second chances for the formerly incarcerated as well as other groups so often excluded from the workforce.
