Can employment law help you if you’re refused a job or been badly treated by your employer as a result of your criminal record?

Anybody with a criminal record will, at one time or another, have come across some form of negativity or discrimination when applying for work.

Many employers simply don’t know enough about criminal record disclosure legislation and have little understanding of what they can and can’t do.

If your conviction is spent, then you will have some rights under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA). If however it is unspent or, you are applying for jobs which are exempt from the ROA, then you will have very little legal protection.

If you have been refused a job or been treated badly in the workplace as a result of your criminal record then it’s important that you are clear about what, if any, legal remedies are available to you.

We have updated our information on spent and unspent convictions and employment law which aims to set out the legal options open to you if you find yourself in one of the situations described above.

For more information

• Our new information – Spent and unspent convictions and employment law
• For more practical self-help information – Find out more information on disclosing to employers
• Questions – If you have any questions about this, you can contact our helpline.