pathways, a partner for talent conversation series: community resilience and social justice
Randstad is partnering with The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), Walmart Foundation, and HQ DC to host a business roundtable on Thursday, September 12, 2024

barriers to financial inclusion and stability
according to the Polaris National Survivor Study, survivors of sex and labor trafficking face unique barriers to financial and societal inclusion that may not similarly affect survivors of other kinds of violence.

• roughly 40% of respondents reported some kind of criminal record, and of those, 90% reported that all or some of their arrests were related to their exploitation. Criminal records can stand in the way of economic inclusion, education opportunities, and finding stable housing.

• many victims of human trafficking are exploited through the misuse of their identity by their trafficker for various financial schemes
• over 60% of respondents reported experiencing financial abuse by their trafficker

The roundtable will focus on the importance of first and second chance hiring, highlighting RBIJ’s Unlock Potential (UP) program and Randstad’s Hire Hope program. Following the roundtable discussion, business leaders, policy experts, and non-profit leaders in attendance will develop an action plan for further engagement resulting in a white paper to be widely shared with businesses.