Imagine on your next job interview, the hiring manager asks you three simple questions and then hires you—no background check, work history evaluation, or skills assessment required. Recruiters for the cosmetics company the Body Shop call that open hiring.
After two seasonal trial runs in Canada and the US, the UK-based retailer has announced plans to integrate open hiring into its long-term recruitment strategy for permanent entry-level positions in 2022. Doing so eliminates many obstacles to employment that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
The Body Shop reports that it has hired more than 700 seasonal employees using the strategy, and 80 of them have become permanent staff. Based on employee feedback collected during the trial launch, the retailer is creating a suite of support services—including training and development—to further ensure open hires' success. Using a questionnaire, the company identifies additional help new hires may need, such as transportation or housing assistance, and links individuals to the employee assistance program for support.
"We believe businesses are a force for good, and that means giving everyone the opportunity to work regardless of their background and previous experience," says Nicolas Debray, president of the Body Shop, the Americas.
