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Employers considering hiring ex-offenders in 2023

A new study has found that almost two third of employers said they would think about employing ex-offenders this year.

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Employers considering hiring ex-offenders in 2023

A new study has found that almost two third of employers said they would think about employing ex-offenders this year.

The research conducted by Sodexo discovered that employers would be willing to hire former prisoners. However, it also revealed that nearly one in five (17%) would only employ an ex-offender if the job position has been open for longer than six months.

This shows that recruiters still see ex-offenders as more of a last resort, rather than a good person for the job position.

To further support this data 25% of employers said they were worried employees would re-offend. This was also the case when they were asked if they feared for the safety of the rest of the workforce.

The data almost found that almost a quarter (23%) said they would not trust them to behave appropriately at work.

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    The Sodexo study

    The new study was commissioned by Sodexo, the food services and facilities management business. They currently run six UK prisons on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and Scottish Prison Service.

    They have committed to filling 5% of appropriate job positions with ex-offenders. In 2021-2022 alone they had 162 DBS applications returned as positive, but 133 (82%) of these gained employment.

    The study wanted to understand to what extent prison leavers and ex-offenders, who have not served custodial sentences, have the same employment opportunities as other job seekers.

    The company itself is a Ban the Box employer. Companies involved in the Ban the Box campaign create fair opportunities for ex-offenders to compete for jobs.

    The commissioned research asked 1,000 owners and senior leaders with hiring duties across British businesses. The research found that 61% will be hiring ex-offenders in 2023. Whereas 21% say they will not be doing this.

    As the UK struggles with the talent shortage, 40% of companies have said they are investing in training for their HR teams. This should ensure that ex-offenders are supported in the company.

    Almost half 46% of the employers also stated that supporting their wider community was important, especially during an uncertain time in the UK. They also said this was one of the reasons why they’d be employing people with criminal records.

    Some more positive data from the research found a cross sample of 62% of industry leaders believed ex-offenders could help fill job shortages. Particular areas included food pickers and delivery drivers in farming. 57% say talent shortages in hospitality could be another area.

    an ex-offender tapes a box for delivery in a warehouse

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    Starting Fresh Campaign

    Last week Sodexo introduced the Starting Fresh campaign to urge companies to start thinking about hiring ex-offenders.

    The company is collaborating with partners including New Futures Network, The Oswin Project, Clean Sheet and Novus Works. They hope to help end the perceived obstacles linked with employing ex-offenders. These obstacles are associated with the reintegration of people into communities.

    an employer and an ex-offender employee work together

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    Employer advice on hiring ex-offenders

    Hiring ex-offenders could be a good choice in many sectors. As seen from the data, employers are beginning to see ex-offenders more positively. However, knowing whom you can and can’t hire contractually for some industries and particular ex-offenders is important. If you’re considering hiring ex-offenders but need advice on policies and employment contracts, we can help.

    We provide free support if you’re an employer and need advice on employment contracts. We offer 24/7 aid to guide you through the process.

    Speak to one of our HR and Employment Law advisors free at 0800 144 4050 or click here. 

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    FAQs

    We’re here to answer any questions you might have with expert ease.

    It depends on what industry you are recruiting in but serious crimes such as sexual abuse, violence and terrorism stop ex-offenders from working with the vulnerable and children.

    Some jobs will need to run a DBS check for people to work in the job position.

    Some jobs that might not require a DBS check include delivery drivers, cleaners and security officers.

    Discrimination

    There are many different types of discrimination in the workplace. That’s why at Employers Direct we give employers professional advice and support 24/7.

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    Dealing with harassment claims, especially sexual harassment at work can be tough for an employer. We give free expert advice to help solve any issues.

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    If you’re an employer struggling with bullying in the workplace and a claim has been made, we will support you.

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