Equity Starts With a Fair Chance
The Fair Chance Ordinance is now in effect as of September 3rd, 2024!
Through its Fair Chance Hiring Campaign, DEO is committed to helping employers understand and comply with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers (FCO) while providing resources and opportunities that empower individuals with criminal histories to highlight their skills and experiences and successfully meet local workforce needs.
LA County Fair Chance Ordinance
The FCO helps eliminate outdated, discriminatory, and unlawful hiring practices that can unfairly impact individuals with criminal histories by implementing compliance requirements and penalties at the local level. By promoting fair access to employment, the FCO seeks to connect qualified yet often overlooked talent to hiring employers, reducing recidivism and increasing local and targeted hiring, work retention and mobility, local economic growth, and community well-being. The FCO builds on the 2018 California Fair Chance Act, which made it unlawful to discriminate against individuals in hiring on the basis of their justice involvement without due process. The FCO provides additional local protections and is enforced by the LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, which has the authority to investigate complaints and penalize employers, when necessary.
LA County Fair Chance Hiring Campaign
DEO leads the Fair Chance Hiring Campaign. This was originally launched in 2019 and has expanded with the new FCO in 2024.
The Fair Chance Hiring Campaign is a public awareness campaign and dedicated workforce programming for hiring employers as well as justice-impacted workers. DEO, its network of America’s Job Centers of California, and partners Taskforce and Center for Employment Opportunities provide information and technical assistance on the California Fair Chance Act and FCO that helps justice-impacted workers know their rights and employers stay compliant with the new laws. The campaign also encourages employers to pledge to Fair Chance hiring and offers recruitment and other financial incentives to match to qualified jobseekers with justice-involvement. Finally, dedicated job prep, skills training, paid work, and hiring support are customized and available to justice-impacted jobseekers in high-growth sectors.
For Employers
DEO leads outreach and education efforts to ensure that both employers and jobseekers understand their rights and responsibilities under the FCO.
The FCO limits when and how employers can consider criminal history and establishes strict procedure if they decide to rescind a job offer based on criminal history. While the California Fair Chance Act provides similar protections, the FCO in LA County offers additional safeguards and allows the County to fine employers who violate its provisions.
The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is providing technical assistance with DEO to employers as part of the Fair Chance Hiring campaign. DEO and its America’s Job Centers of California also ensures local employers access the skills and experience of those Angelenos with lived experience.
Employers covered by the FCO
The Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers applies to any employer that employs five (5) or more employees who perform or whose positions will involve performing an average of at least two (2) hours of work per week in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County
Resources for FCO compliance
- FCO FAQs
- Fair Chance Hiring Campaign – Employer One-pager
- Fair Chance Hiring Campaign – Employer Toolkit
Technical assistance for FCO compliance
- For information and technical assistance on staying complaint, connect with the Center for Employment Opportunities: Connect Here
- For information and inquiries on enforcement and penalties, connect with the LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs: Connect Here
Pledge to Fair Chance Hiring – Access hiring and training support
To pledge as a Fair Chance hiring employer, access recruitment services and financial incentives like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, connect with an America’s Job Center of California:
For Jobseekers
DEO also leads education and outreach for system-impacted workers on the FCO and offers dedicated hiring and training support through its America’s Job Centers of California and partners.
DEO helps jobseekers understand their rights and achieve success in their job search, improving outcomes for individuals and system-impacted communities.
Know Your Rights – Get to know the Fair Chance Act and FCO
- FCO FAQs
- Fair Chance Hiring Campaign – Jobseeker One-Pager
- Fair Chance Hiring Campaign – Jobseeker Toolkit
1:1 support for jobseekers
- For job prep, job training and credentials, and paid work, connect with an America’s Job Center of California: This includes dedicated programs like INVEST and LA:RISE.
- For wide-ranging support for family and friends impacted by the justice system, connect with the LA County Justice Care and Opportunities Department at 833-LAC-JCOD or visit: justiceconnect.org.
Fair Chance hiring with LA County
LA County is a Fair Chance hiring employer. Learn more about how to join the County through the LA County Department of Human Resources: Connect Here
File a complaint against an employer
The LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs will enforce the Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers. Complaints against employers can be filed here.
File a complaint against an employer.
The LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs will enforce the Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers. Complaints against employers can be filed here.