A phenomenological study of employer perspectives on hiring ex- offenders

• Main Authors: Oluwasegun Obatusin, Debbie Ritter-Williams
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2019-01-01
• Series: Cogent Social Sciences
• Subjects: ex- offender employment; public perception; recidivism; reentry; stigma; trust
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2019.1571730

Several researchers established a direct relationship between recidivism and ex-offenders’ unemployment. While the consequences of ex-offender unemployment to society are known, the lived experiences of employers or business owners making employment decisions about ex-offenders were unknown. Using data obtained from in-depth interviews with employers who have considered hiring an ex-offender in the Baltimore Metropolitan area, this phenomenological study yielded findings that perception and trust played significant roles in employers’ hiring decisions. The study further revealed that employers recognize ex-offenders need assistance with basic workplace skills and that one of the primary concerns about employing ex-offenders is a backlash from customer perceptions.