More than a third of HR decision-makers in the UK said they have faced pushback against equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives over the past year, according to new research.

The new YouGov poll, carried out for the national employment charity Working Chance, surveyed 565 HR decision-makers and found that resistance towards EDI was on the rise.

The findings raised concerns about the impact on people with convictions, who often rely on inclusive hiring practices to access work.

Working Chance, which supports women with convictions into employment, warned that scaling back inclusive hiring risked entrenching social exclusion and undermining efforts to reduce reoffending.

Evidence consistently shows that stable employment is one of the most effective ways of preventing people from returning to the criminal justice system, the charity said.

Last December, a Guardian analysis found the UK’s biggest businesses were rolling back their public support for Pride celebrations. It followed another Guardian investigation showing that only a third of recommendations from major reports commissioned to tackle systemic racism over the past 40 years had been implemented.

“If this trend continues, then access to work is likely to become increasingly difficult for people who already face significant barriers to employment, including those with criminal convictions,” Natasha Finlayson, the chief executive of Working Chance, said.

The findings come amid growing legal and political pressure on targeted inclusion schemes. A charity that organises internships for Black and minority ethnic candidates has been taken to court by an influencer for not offering equivalent schemes for white applicants. Employers and charities in the UK fear that copycat cases could follow, with some already withdrawing support from schemes.

The recent research was published amid a conference at the Ministry of Justice this week, bringing together HR leaders, employers and inclusion specialists to address a “confidence gap” among employers.

MoJ evidence shows employment is the strongest protective factor against reoffending, which costs the UK economy an estimated £18bn to £23bn annually. The conference will examine concerns around risk, disclosure, DBS checks and workplace integration, with organisers saying misconceptions and lack of guidance remain major barriers.

The government estimates that about one in four working-age adults have some form of criminal record, a broad measure that includes cautions and minor offences, some of which may be disclosed in background checks. Campaigners calling for changes to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) have long said it casts too wide a net.

Working Chance’s latest data shows that despite the scale of criminal records, more than half (58%) of HR leaders do not feel confident recruiting and supporting people with convictions.

“When done well, inclusive hiring is not only good for individuals and their families, but also for businesses, communities and the economy,” Finlayson added.

Rayhana, who did not wish to give her surname, likened the effect of Working Chance’s support to being reborn.

“I applied for and was provisionally offered five jobs, all of which were taken away the moment the DBS certificate came back and the employer found out about my conviction,” she said. “It felt like I didn’t exist. Like society wanted to pretend that I didn’t exist.”

She said her conviction came during a period of poor mental health after losing her job, and that she was determined to rebuild her life. “I don’t want to shrink any more, I want to be a force for good.”

She added: “Working Chance supported me to get my current job two years ago, and the impact of having this job is gamechanging. It feels like a rebirth to be able to rebuild my identity. Now I’m working I have the tools to take responsibility and I won’t go back to my old life,” she said.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Employment is key in reducing reoffending, which costs the UK economy billions every year. Evidence consistently shows that businesses who employ people with convictions benefit from a loyal, skilled and committed workforce. Supporting access to work not only helps individuals to rebuild their lives, but also delivers wider benefits for businesses, communities and the economy as a whole.”