The Body Shop North America has stated that it would expand its open hiring processes, which are a holistic and fair approach to attracting and onboarding staff. This new procedure eliminates common hiring restrictions such as background checks, drug screens, and prior experience.
Following two successful seasonal employment pilot initiatives, the company’s customer consultant and entry-level positions in retail locations and distribution centers will now be filled permanently.
“The Body Shop is dedicated to establishing an inclusive environment for all of our workers, and that commitment begins with the hiring process,” stated Nicolas Debray, President of The Body Shop, Americas. “We think that businesses can be a force for good, which implies that everyone, regardless of their background or prior experience, should have the opportunity to work. If you want to work in one of our retail locations or our Distribution Center, we can provide you a job that pays well. It’s that straightforward, and it works.”
The company claims that this shift toward a more inclusive hiring approach would result in a “more robust ecosystem of training, development, and support services for employees,” based on feedback from the trial program.
The company’s Open Hiring program initially asked candidates three questions on a first-come, first-served basis, but it will now join with nonprofit organizations to recruit people with specific impediments to employment, such as homelessness, jail, and a lack of education.
“We wanted to partner with organizations that were dedicated to not only assisting residents in overcoming barriers to employment, but also supporting them once they were hired,” Debray explained. “Many of our community partners provide job preparation training to assist individuals in preparing to enter the workforce. They will also continue to help the individual once they have been hired. This lowers the hurdles to the employee’s success in their new position.”
The Body Shop will now focus on assisting marginalized communities through partnerships with organizations such as Project Renewal, City Relief, and the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, as well as a comprehensive training program for management and entry-level employees to improve soft skills and leadership development.
“Access to a well-paying job is one of the most glaring and overpowering hurdles that prevent people experiencing homelessness from changing their lives,” said Josiah Haken, Chief Program Officer of City Relief. “City Relief is ecstatic to collaborate with The Body Shop to link those who are homeless with job opportunities that will enable them to build a better future for themselves and their families.”
