At Pardon Services Canada
We often talk about the benefits of getting a record suspension or travel waiver. With a cleared name, there are so many more employment, volunteer and travel opportunities to discover. What often comes as a surprise is learning about the many obstacles you could face if you don’t do something about your criminal record.
Employment
Many employers conduct local or federal criminal record searches before hiring. Discovery of your criminal record will negatively affect your chances to get a job, and can put you and your family at financial risk. A criminal record makes it difficult to receive promotions in a company because many conduct record searches for employees who have applied for career advancements and, no matter how deserving of it you are, it could unfortunately result in you being terminated from the position altogether.
Likewise, if you are self employed, own a business or do contract work, you are at risk of being assessed based on your criminal record. Before subcontracting to an individual or to a business, many clients require criminal record searches for all employees and owners.
Volunteer Work
Criminal record searches are required by law for people wishing to be volunteers. Most organizations will not permit you to volunteer if you have a criminal record. This can hinder you from helping out with a local charity, coaching your children’s soccer team or even attending as a chaperone on their school field trips.
Ability to be Bonded
Bondable, relating to employment, means one’s ability to be insured by the hiring company. Positions that require employees to be bonded include: roles where there is sensitive or valuable company information, employment that involves the direct handling of money, jobs that involve the use of credit card or banking information, client services jobs, work in the Vulnerable Sector and work in financial and banking institutions.
If it is too expensive for an employer to bond you, because of your criminal record, you will not be hired. A pre-employment screening question is used to rule out candidates with convictions, specifically for theft and fraud. In the event of loss relating to a bonded employee, the company is insured for the value of the loss. Therefore, companies view it as too risky and too expensive to bond persons with a criminal record, and you might not be hired because of your conviction.
Livelihood
Fundamental aspects of your life can be hindered with a criminal record, such choosing where you live or go to school. Citizenship and Immigration Canada often rejects applications for refugee status, landed status and citizenship, and will often deport people who have a record. Likewise, most standard rental and educational program applications will ask if you have a criminal record.
Learning about the repercussions of a criminal record is the first step to making a positive difference for yourself. Getting a record suspension or waiver is a large part of helping remove the stigma associated with a criminal past and instilling confidence in yourself, while vastly improving the quality of your life. Call or contact us to learn more.
