Poll: Should firms be able to ask prospective employees about their criminal records?
Firms have been urged not to question people about criminal records when they apply for a job in a bid to tackle "widespread discrimination" against ex-offenders.
A charity is pressing for companies to remove the criminal record disclosure tick box from job application forms.
Business in the Community said one in five unemployed jobseekers had a criminal conviction, yet too many employers had an exaggerated fear of hiring them.
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Around 25 employers, with a combined workforce of 200,000, had removed the criminal record tick box from their recruitment literature in the past year, enabling ex-offenders to compete fairly for jobs, said the report.
"Business has a huge opportunity and responsibility to make the workplace more accessible to talented ex-offenders that simply want to contribute their skills to society," said Catherine Sermon, employment director at Business in the Community.
"Yet too many companies have an exaggerated fear of recruiting people with criminal convictions and a misconception that employing them is risky business.
"Removing the tick box doesn't remove disclosure. It simply moves asking about convictions to later in the recruitment process - assessing candidates on their suitability, skills and ability first.
"If just 5% of UK private sector employers removed the tick box, over a million roles would be more accessible to ex-offenders. We are urging many more employers to join the 25 pioneering firms who have committed to Ban the Box this year."
Should firms be able to ask prospective employees about their criminal records? Vote now in our poll and leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
