Talented, Valuable, and Committed: Employer Perceptions of Applicants with a Criminal History

Abstract

Research on hiring consistently finds criminal history to be one of the most stigmatized and detrimental characteristics during the selection process. However, once hired, little research exists regarding the employer perceptions of employees with a criminal history. We surveyed employers to explore how employers that have hired individuals with a criminal history may perceive them to be a valuable source of talent, productive, committed, and able to fit skill demands. We also considered how employers who interpreted diversity and inclusion to be an important part of their organization may be more or less willing to hire individuals with a criminal history. Overall, employers that hired individuals with a criminal history were more likely to do so when they perceived diversity and inclusion to be important. Moreover, these employers were also more likely to perceive individuals with a criminal history to be a valuable source of talent, productive, committed, and able to fit skill demands. In effect, while stigma may still keep this population out of many workplaces, those employers who invite them in may hold favorable perceptions.