Company bosses in England and Wales are making unlawful checks on individuals' backgrounds, according to the BBC's Radio 4 programme Face the Facts.
The programme, broadcast on Friday, claims companies are running Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks - designed for people applying to work with children or vulnerable adults - for jobs such as a train driver, gardener and bricklayer.
The CRB claims companies are best placed to decide who needs to be vetted but crime prevention group Nacro argues this runs counter to the idea of giving ex-offenders a chance to get back into work.
"Most of us know someone who has a criminal record," says the organisation's Ruth Parker. "I don't think any of us can say they no longer deserve a place in society. People deserve a second chance."
Government estimates suggest that around one in four adults of working age has some form of criminal record.
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