Question
We’re thinking about having a question on our job application asking if the applicant has ever been charged with a crime.
Is it legal to ask? Can the question cause problems?
ANSWER -> Answers to tricky HR questions: OK to ask about criminal charges?.
If you’re not careful you’ll miss the subtlety of the syntax of the answer. Just as lady justice is blind, a charge does not mean a conviction. A charge has no bearing on guilt just as guilt has no bearing on the conviction. Notice that guilt is really not part of the equation between charge and conviction. Guilt is ours to own and take up with our maker – the real victim. Whoa, that was deep – sorry.
Tags: application, charge, conviction, criminal, FAQ, HR, Question