Perception of business owners on hiring ex-convicts
Liza Joy B. Barican, Klyzia C. Rijon & Joeven Porras
Abstract
Small- and medium-sized business owners consider the qualifications and backgrounds of individuals before hiring them, as they want to ensure the quality of work and minimize the risks of employing unqualified personnel. Therefore, it is essential to understand business owners' perceptions of hiring ex-convicts, both to identify the criteria they prioritize when selecting employees and to provide ex-convicts with opportunities to be reasonably assessed for job suitability. This study aimed to assess business owners' perceptions of hiring ex-convicts, analyzing responses collectively and separately according to age, sex, educational attainment, and type of business, as well as in relation to work competence, character, and evidence of reformation. The respondents consisted of 100 business owners, and the study was conducted in Bacolod City, Philippines. Additionally, the study sought to determine whether there were significant differences in perceptions when respondents were grouped according to their profile variables. The study employed a descriptive comparative research design and the Mann–Whitney U test. Results indicated that business owners’ perceptions of hiring ex-convicts were generally positive, regardless of profile variables or area of focus. However, disparities were observed in perceptions based on the highest educational attainment of the business owners. Consequently, the researcher strongly recommends that policymakers and local officials establish a city ordinance that sets standards for qualifying ex-convicts, enabling them to reapply for jobs under clear requirements and qualifications, thereby helping to restore trust and demonstrate positive moral character to potential employers.
Keywords
business owners, ex-convicts, character, perception reformation, stigma, work competence
Author information & Contribution
Liza Joy B. Barican. Corresponding author. Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice with Specialization in Criminology. Faculty Member, College of Criminal Justice Education, STI West Negros University. Email: lizajoybarican@gmail.com
Klyzia C. Rijon. Bachelor of Science in Criminology. Faculty Member, College of Criminal Justice Education, STI West Negros University. Email: klyziarijon@gmail.com
Joeven Porras. Bachelor of Science in Criminology. Alumni, College of Criminal Justice Education, STI West Negros University. Email: porras.871505@wnu.sti.edu.ph
"All authors equally contributed to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript."
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Funding
This work was not supported by any funding.
AI Declaration
The author declares the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in writing this paper. In particular, the author used AI tools, such as ChatGPT for correcting sentence construction, grammar, and syntax, and Grammarly for thorough grammar checks, which have been employed to ensure the accuracy and clarity of the context. The author takes full responsibility for ensuring proper review and editing of content generated using AI.
Notes
*This paper is presented at the 6th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Industry and Academic Research (ICMIAR)-2025
Acknowledgement
The researchers extend their gratitude to STI West Negros University for providing the financial assistance that supported the presentation of this study and to the business owners in Bacolod City for their cooperation and participation in this research.
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Cite this article:
Barican, L.J.B., Rijon, K.C. & Porras, J. (2025). Perception of business owners on hiring ex-convicts. Industry and Academic Research Review, 3(1), 92-107. https://doi.org/10.53378/iarr.189
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