Niacro-Ulster University survey on employer perspectives on hiring people with convictions

Niacro, in partnership with Ulster University, initiated a survey into employer attitudes to hiring people with convictions and some of the main finding were as follows.

MOST EMPLOYERS WANT TO BE SAFE

Employers identified safety concerns as the main factor that stops them hiring people with convictions. Their main concern when considering employing people with convictions was the type of offence, with particular concern surrounding sexual and violent offences, and the study ultimately found that safety of current clients and employees is the employer's main worry when considering employing people with convictions.

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MOST EMPLOYERS WANT TO BE FAIR

Promisingly, 97% of employers believe that rehabilitation of people with convictions is possible, and 59% believe that everyone has responsibility for this rehabilitation. The employers indicated that proof of rehabilitation would make them more likely to hire someone with a conviction, which indicates employers want to give a chance to those who have taken action to improve.

MOST EMPLOYERS WANT TO BE CONSISTENT

68% of employers said they felt there is a lack of support and information available for employers regarding employing people with convictions. The findings show that having a policy, or statement of non-discrimination towards people with convictions make employers feel more informed and supported, as well as feeling more confident in knowing when to ask applicants about any convictions they may have. These findings indicate that having clear, consistent policies, and supporting employers to do so, would increase the likelihood of them considering employing people with convictions.

Over ¾ of employers had a positive experience when working with people with convictions.

• 85% of employers know someone that has a conviction, and 61% have worked with someone who had a conviction before.
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• Those who have experience of people with convictions, whether in a professional or personal capacity, were more likely to employ them than those with no previous experience.
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• Such findings emphasise the importance of work placements, and organisations such as NIACRO engaging with employers; benefiting the employer, and the individual with the conviction, as well as information and support being available to the employer.

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For more information on this you can view the survey results in the listed resource below.

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