The Relationship Between Criminal Records and Job Performance: An Examination of Customer Service Representatives

Authors

Jakari N. Griffith, Bridgewater State UniversityFollow
Todd C. Harris, Bridgewater State UniversityFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25035/pad.2020.03.003

Abstract

Between 70 million and 100 million Americans—or as many as one in three—have some type of criminal record (Vallas & Dietrich, 2014). Having even a minor criminal record often functions as a significant impediment to gainful employment and resultant economic security. This is especially problematic given that: (a) many companies now incorporate background checks within their hiring process and (b) little empirical research exists about the relationship between criminal records and job performance. Thus, this study examined the relationship between criminal records and objective performance of customer service representatives (N = 627) in a large telecommunications firm. Our regression analyses indicate that criminal record was not a predictor of job performance.

Recommended Citation

Griffith, Jakari N. and Harris, Todd C. (2020) "The Relationship Between Criminal Records and Job Performance: An Examination of Customer Service Representatives," Personnel Assessment and Decisions: Number 6 : Iss. 3 , Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/pad.2020.03.003
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/pad/vol6/iss3/3

Corresponding Author Information

Jakari N. Griffith

jgriffith@bridgew.edu