Running a background check on a new candidate is a widely used practice, whether simply to verify the candidate’s identity or to uncover other concerns related to the job. It’s generally a critical and valuable step in the hiring process.

However, some organizations may overlook candidates with a criminal conviction on their record regardless of whether it will affect their future role. As a result, millions of Canadians face a significant barrier to employment.

Two organizations are working together to correct this unfair hiring practice by promoting the right education and tools to enable fair chance hiring. The Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) and Fair Chances Coalition (FCC) have partnered to help equip HR teams with best practices and processes for hiring applicants with a criminal record.

HRPA, an association composed of HR professionals throughout Canada, is working to equip its members with the right information and procedures to expand fair chance hiring throughout Canada.

How will these efforts help create a more fair playing field? How common are these unfair hiring practices? And what can companies do to adopt fair chance hiring? We’ll dive into these questions so you can do your part to create a more equitable Canada.

What is Fair Chance Hiring?

The FCC explains that fair chance hiring is a series of best practices, policies, and training programs that enable employers to assess candidates with criminal records fairly. 

While there are plenty of individual practices, they all center around the belief that every qualified candidate has the right to a fair assessment, regardless of their background. 

Fair chance hiring aims to create a more level playing field for those with a past criminal record. Promoting this campaign relies on giving employers the right knowledge and best practices to help break down unfair barriers to employment.

Millions of Canadians Are Affected

Companies often avoid hiring candidates who don’t have a “clean” record under the misconception that doing so means they’ll hire better candidates. As a result, there are reportedly 4 million Canadians facing barriers to employment related to a past criminal record. 

Some industries may have specific regulations that may disqualify candidates with a record. While many employers are unaffected by such laws, they may still avoid hiring a candidate with a record over one without one — and that's an unfair hiring practice.

So, while it may be tempting to dismiss these practices as affecting only a small segment of the population, the problem is more widespread than it can initially seem. Solving this issue can help workers, employers, and Canada overall.

How Police Record Checks Can Influence Hiring

HRPA conducted a survey of 445 HR professionals to better understand how police background checks influence hiring decisions. Here are a few of the eye-opening results from the survey:

• 80% of respondents indicated that they require police record checks at least some of the time when evaluating applications.
• 68% of respondents run criminal record checks, while 50% run the more enhanced vulnerable sector checks.
• 19% indicated they require a “clean” record, while 68% indicated they may accept candidates with a criminal conviction based on the position.

Additionally, 61% of respondents indicated they’d be interested in training and tools, such as webinars, case studies, and best practices, to help learn more about fair chance hiring. Specifically, they requested resources on the following topics:

• Creating privacy controls
• How to make decisions for candidates with criminal records
• How to word job postings

HRPA’s survey indicates that police record checks are both common and create a barrier for Canadians with a criminal record. Fortunately, the majority of respondents are interested in learning more so they can adopt fair chance hiring practices.

How Might Fair Chance Hiring Benefit Your Business?

Creating a fairer playing field is certainly beneficial for fair chance hires, but businesses can also reap valuable rewards by revising hiring practices. A few notable ways fair chance hiring affects your business include:

• Fair practices are viewed favourably: Being fair to potential candidates is appreciated by many would-be applicants, even if they do not have a criminal record. A 2022 survey indicated that 96% of workers would prefer to work for a company with fair chance practices. It seems clear that fair hiring practices build employee loyalty throughout the workforce. 
• Create a more equitable workforce: Those with previous convictions face challenges to employment, while others do not — that's not equitable. HRPA and FCC are promoting fair chance hiring to make the overall workforce better for everyone, and adopting these practices now signal your commitment to this goal.
• Fair chance hires are considered stronger performers: 80% of HR professionals and leaders indicated these fair chance hires performed better than their counterparts. While individual hires may vary, there’s solid evidence that fair practices can benefit overall productivity.

The push to lower this barrier to employment is still growing. How might fair chance hiring affect businesses and industries as more people are able to find their ideal jobs? Only time will tell, but we’re willing to bet getting rid of unfair practices will have far-reaching positive effects.

It’s Time to Use Police Background Checks Fairly

Police background checks are necessary for many specific roles — nobody is advocating for getting rid of them. However, how they've been used to reject candidates with a criminal record when legally required is an unfair hiring practice.

Running a Canadian criminal record check is vital in filling many roles, but it should only be done when necessary and relevant. Additionally, results should be carefully reviewed rather than serve as immediate disqualification.

Hire Performance offers an industry-leading platform for requesting and reviewing criminal background checks in full accordance with privacy regulations. We’ll provide the necessary information so you can make the right decisions to stay compliant.

Requiring police background checks doesn’t prevent you from adopting fair chance hiring. Are you ready to create a more equitable workforce with fast, accurate record checks? Learn more about our criminal record checks as you pursue fair chance hiring.