Example human resource management dissertation topic 2:

CRB checking and HRM: A mind-field of competing rights and priorities?

Criminal Records Bureau checking was initially intended to only be used for those adults who had sustained unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults. However, since their introduction they have increasingly become a more generalised tool within the recruitment process with organisations insisting upon such checks for all work. This study develops such concerns by looking not only at the increased use of CRB checks on general members of the public applying for work but also specifically for those who have convictions but are not applying for just that are ‘restricted’. This is a dissertation that combines aspects of human rights, law and human resource management theory, and is therefore of particular interest as a consequence of its cross disciplinary nature.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Levashina, J. and Campion, M. (2009) ‘Expected practices in background checking: Review of the human resource management literature’, Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, Vol. 21(3), pp. 231-249.
• Naylor, B., Paterson, M. and Pittard, M. (2008) ‘In the shadow of a criminal record: Proposing a just model of criminal record employment checks’, University of Melbourne Law Review, Vol. 32, pp. 171-194.
• Williams, C. (2011) ‘The growth and permanency of criminal records with particular reference to juveniles’, The Police Journal, Vol. 84(2), pp. 171-183.