Changing public attitudes toward the employment of formerly incarcerated people: The role of “human resources social advocacy”

Abstract

This registered report aims to evaluate the extent to which the human resources function can change public attitudes toward a controversial social issue. Focusing on the employment of formerly incarcerated people, we explore the novel concept of “human resources social advocacy” (HRSA), an interventionist approach through which HR might pro-actively change and/or shape people's minds on social issues via the communication and conveyance of ideas related to HR matters of public interest. We seek to test the effectiveness of two HRSA interventions in reducing public stigma toward the employment of formerly incarcerated people. One makes a moral case (“Changing Hearts”) and the other makes an instrument case (“Changing Minds”) for including formerly incarcerated people in the labor market. We also explore which of the two interventions is more effective at achieving normative change. This research will have important implications for the “societal effects” of human resource management.