Ex-Felon Suffers the Penalty 20 Years Later by Lindsey Novak on Creators.com

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Ex-Felon Suffers the Penalty 20 Years Later

Q: Twenty years ago, I was convicted of trafficking. I served 4 1/2 years in prison and tried re-entering society as a law-abiding, taxpaying citizen. I thought this was the natural course of the way things operate in America. This was and still is not the case, even after the governor restored my civil rights in March 2007. I answered "no" on applications that asked, "Have you ever been convicted of a felony during the past 10 years?" Even though the conviction was 20 years ago, I received letters from various large companies stating that they don't hire ex-felons. I was recruited for a nationally known company, passed all the interviews and entrance tests and then, after a background check, was told the same thing. When I explained I had worked for the company in the past, I was told that the hiring policy had changed, which was why I could not be hired. I told the company representative that ex-felons are hired and gave him the name of Martha Stewart. The rep hung up on me.

I have had no additional convictions in the past 20 years, nor do I plan to have any, but our society is set up to make people pay for their mistakes for the rest of their lives. I have worked at certain jobs during this post-felon time, but I see various jobs that I am fully qualified for and can't get one. How do I get jobs that would allow me to support my family when our society shows no forgiveness to those who make mistakes when they are young?

A: Society's forgiveness of a dark or questionable past has to do with who you are and whom you know.

Public opinion is that not all felonies are equal. Trafficking is thought of as more threatening and violent than insider trading, so don't waste your energy by comparing your outcome with famous people's; it will only create greater frustration for you. If you can't create and develop your own business, focus on jobs at smaller, more progressive companies in fast-paced environments. Entrepreneurial types are less likely to hold a grudge over an incident that involved poor judgment as a youth. What's important is that you regret your mistake and have spent your adult life doing the right thing.

Quits After 6 Months of Employment and Wants Vacation Pay

Q: I just gave my employer 2 1/2 weeks' notice of termination, and I have worked there for only six months. The company doesn't have a written vacation policy, but I know of two employees who were given vacation pay after six months of employment. I know I am valued here, because I have trained new employees. Am I justified in asking to be paid my vacation time?

A: Presumably, the two employees awarded their paid vacations after six months are not in the process of leaving the company. Seeing as there is no written policy, ask your human resources representative or company president what benefits you will receive when you leave. Don't feel as if you are asking for a favor. The answer can only be yes or no, and hiding from the information won't change things.

Please send your questions to: Lindsey Novak, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. E-mail her at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com, or visit her Web site at www.LindseyNovak.com. She answers all e-mails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

Comments

6 Comments | Post Comment

I have worked for small companies, and usually the policy is you get 2 weeks vacation after a year. They will usually let you take one of the weeks after 6 months, as a favor. However, to pay someone a weeks vacation when they are leaving after only 6 months would not be done because they did not earn it by working there a year yet. I would think vacation policy would have been discussed at the job interview. The letter writer conveniently left out what the policy officially (but verbally) is. If she/he was smarter, they should have taken a weeks vacation, which most likely would have been granted, before they gave notice.

Comment: #1
Posted by: michele
Fri Feb 5, 2010 6:30 AM

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To the former felon,
Unfortunately, in this lawsuit-conscious age, larger companies may have policies that leave those at the local levels with very little flexibility. Getting testy with someone who has to adhere to those policies or have their own job at risk is counter productive. A more effective approach might be to ask to speak to someone higher up the company (not local affiliate) chain of command.
If you were applying with me (I'm the office manager of a small, non-chain motel) your attitude about your felony conviction, not the conviction itself would make or break your application. If you came across as whining about the unfairness of post-conviction life and/or having a chip on your shoulder, as you did in your letter, that would be a deal breaker. If you across as upfront and matter-of-fact about your conviction (I need to be up front with you. I made a decision that was crminally stupid when I was young. This is what I have done with my life since) you would have a much better chance of being hired.

Comment: #2
Posted by: Annie Fan
Fri Feb 5, 2010 10:16 PM

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Personally, I don't feel the ex-felon is whining about the unfairness of his post conviction life. He is stating it as it is.
When an ex felon gets released, they are expected to become productive members of society in a society that shuns and discriminates against them for the rest of their lives. That is the way it is, and unless things change in this country and people are given a chance to get their lives back, there will be repeat criminals. Ex felons have families too, and they need and want to support them. Why is it that this country has to make it nearly impossible for the average non violent ex felon to do just that? You could be a non violent offender, yet you are treated like you murdered someone, or that you will do something similar to that if an employer hires you. The letter writer is correct. It is not fair to him or any of the others out there that have changed their lives or are in the process of trying to change.

Comment: #3
Posted by: karen
Mon Feb 8, 2010 11:45 PM

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If his record has been expunged he can honestly answer that he has no felony convictions. If a company is still able to pull up that history, he needs to check with the State that expunged his record and be sure they have removed the information.

Comment: #4
Posted by: Cathy Salazar
Tue Feb 9, 2010 4:33 PM

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As far as the ex-felon thing is considered, some companies have blanket policies and there's just no luck getting around them. A coworkers husband got a job with permission from one of the VPs but one of the other VPs disagreed with his judgement and the poor guy ended up being asked to leave the company. Many companies have a blanket policy because they have found the judgement of individual HR reps and franchise owners to be wanting. It's a shame it's an all or nothing proposition, but the ex-felon should be able to call the state corrections & the employment department and get advice on which employers may hire him.

Comment: #5
Posted by: Laurie
Sun Feb 14, 2010 7:01 PM

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"Twenty years ago, I was convicted of trafficking. I served 4 1/2 years in prison and tried re-entering society as a law-abiding, taxpaying citizen. I thought this was the natural course of the way things operate in America."

This has never been the case. Why on earth does anyone imagine that doing your time in prison makes you "even" with society? It's an illusion at best. Felonies, for the most part, are forever. Like college transcripts. That doesn't mean there's nothing you can do to better your life after getting out of prison, but applying for corporate jobs where even perfect candidates get overlooked isn't going to help. Learn a trade.

Comment: #6
Posted by: LouisaFinnell
Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:50 PM

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Ex-Felon Suffers the Penalty 20 Years Later

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