We began by working with the human resources team to support Rue Gilt in implementing best practices in its application and interviewing process, hiring matrix, and background check policies. The Rue Gilt leadership was committed to providing high quality opportunities for people returning from the justice system, and we helped ensure the company was not unintentionally excluding candidates with past convictions.
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We then developed a tailored transitional work partnership between Center for Employment Opportunities’ (CEO) Louisville location and Rue Gilt’s Shepherdsville facility. Through its evidence-based reentry employment model, CEO recruits, prepares, and hires people recently released from prison and partners with employers to provide crew-based labor. Beginning in the  fall of 2019, CEO has placed 2-3 crews of 6-12 formerly incarcerated participants who work side-by-side with Rue employees on the warehouse floor. CEO participants typically work four days per week on the crew and spend a day working with job coaches and job developers to attain long-term, full-time jobs.  During their transitional jobs, Rue Gilt identifies participants with particular interest and aptitude for the work, and can make full-time offers at any point. 

In the first year, 150 CEO participants have worked on Rue Gilt crews, gaining valuable experience and income as they rotate back into the workforce. Rue Gilt directly hired 23 CEO participants into jobs at Rue, though not all are still active employees, and Rue currently employs another 15-20 transitional workers through the CEO crews. 
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In a recent interview with the Boston Business Journal, Rue Gilt Chief People Officer, Nicole Zussman shared “It is a win-win for everyone involved! We have found that our CEO associates are highly motivated and are grateful to have the opportunity to be productive workers and wage earners.”