Here in Norway employers can ask the police for the criminal record for a potential employee[1]. The employer must have a legal right to request the records, and must state the reason and use for the request.

Employers for most common jobs will not have a right to request these records.

The police will then filter the criminal records, if any, so that only relevant entries are listed.

This allows employees who have a genuine need reject potential candidates on legitimate grounds, while giving people a reasonable chance to start over in case they do something wrong.

[1]: https://www.politiet.no/en/services/police-certificate-of-co...