Equal Employment Opportunity
The City of Urbana welcomes applicants who bring differences in:

• Age

• Ancestry

• Citizenship status

• Class

• Color

• Creed

• Disability

• Family responsibilities

• Gender identity

• Marital status

• Matriculation (a person’s status as a student)

• Military status

• Military discharge status

• National origin

• Orders of protection

• Personal appearance

• Political affiliation

• Pregnancy

• Prior arrest or conviction record

• Race

• Religion

• Sex

• Sexual orientation

• Source of income
   

Fair Hiring
The City supports Second Chance Employment. Having a criminal record will not automatically disqualify applicants from consideration for City jobs. We strongly encourage all applicants who are interested in and qualified for City jobs to apply!
Most of our positions do not require a criminal background check. If the job doesn’t require it, we won’t ask about it. If a job does require a background check to be conducted, you can be assured that we will keep you informed of your rights and protections as a job applicant throughout the hiring process. If you have a criminal record, we will conduct an individualized review of your circumstances and consider your entire situation, not just your conviction.

What to expect during the hiring process:

• You will not be asked questions about prior arrests or convictions on the application or during your interview (unless you are applying for a position as a police officer or firefighter).

• If the position you are interviewing for requires a criminal background check, a staff member from Human Resources will take you to a private setting after the interview is complete and explain the process if you are selected to move forward, including your rights and protections under Urbana City Code and Illinois law.

• If you are selected to receive a conditional job offer, you may be asked to consent to a criminal background check. We will conduct a criminal background check only if the essential functions of the job require it. You will again receive information regarding your rights and protections as a job applicant.

• If you have a conviction, the results of your criminal background check will be evaluated on the following factors:

  • The length of time since the conviction

  • The number of convictions that appear on the conviction record

  • The nature and severity of the conviction and its relationship to the safety and security of others

  • The facts or circumstances surrounding the conviction.

  • The age of the employee at the time of the conviction, and

  • Evidence of rehabilitation efforts.

• The City may consider withdrawing the conditional job offer only if there is a significant connection between the criminal record and the job’s essential functions, or there is an unreasonable risk to property, the safety of individuals, or the general public. If the City decides to withdraw the conditional job offer, the City must provide you, in writing, with a copy of the conviction report and provide you with at least five days to submit information on why you should remain in consideration.

• If the City still decides to withdraw the conditional job offer, the City must provide you with another notice that explains the basis for the decision, advise you of any internal procedures for requesting reconsideration, and notify you of your right to file a charge of discrimination with the Urbana Human Relations Commission and/or the Illinois Department of Human Rights.

Retaliation
Under law, you have the right to speak up if you, in good faith, reasonably believe that you have been harassed or discriminated against. Retaliation against a person because they have opposed that which they reasonably and in good faith believe to be unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment, and/or because they have made a charge, filed a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this Act, or because he or she has requested, attempted to request, used, or attempted to use a reasonable accommodation as allowed by City and State law, is prohibited. If you believe you have experienced retaliation because you have exercised your right to report wrongdoing, you may contact the Urbana Human Relations Commission and/or the Illinois Department of Human Rights.

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More Information
•    Information on conviction record protection afforded by the Illinois Human Rights Act can be found at: www2.illinois.gov/dhr/Pages/Conviction_Record_Protection_Frequently_Asked_Questions.aspx  
•    Information on the Urbana Human Rights Act, as well as other resources, can be found at: www.urbanaillinois.us/departments/executive/human-relations/links-human-relations-websites