If you are looking for job opportunities in store operations, hospitality, pharmacy or any other store jobs, Wegmans might have some job vacancies that might interest you. But do they hire felons?
Does Wegmans hire Felons?
Yes. Wegmans hires felons for certain job roles depending on the type of charge and the nature of the role. Usually, they do not hire people who are not convicted for violent or sexual offenses.
Wegmans is an Equal Opportunity Employer but it does not have any special hiring programs for felons. They are not a part of the Ban the Box campaign and Fair Chance Business Pledge. However, they have hired felons in the past on a case-by-case basis.
Some of the factors that can impact hiring decisions are
Nature of the offense – Felons convicted of violent or serious crime will most likely get rejected. Felons involved in offenses like theft, shoplifting, or forgery that display dishonest behavior will also find it difficult to get hired.
Nature of the role – Felons have a better chance of getting into entry-level roles compared to management roles. Most companies require people with clean backgrounds for management positions.
Time duration since the conviction – Felons having records older than 7-8 years have a much better chance of getting the job. If they have some experience working in related fields then it makes them strong candidates.
Store jobs are customer-facing jobs. Dealing with people in large crowds is always a challenge. Sometimes there are rude and angry customers and it is the responsibility of the store attendants to handle the situation in a professional manner without losing their temper.
Employees have to be quick on their feet and agile enough to clear out customers and make way for new customers.
Companies avoid hiring a person with a violent background as it becomes a risk to other employees and customers in a stressful situation.
Also, employees have access to valuable goods and personal belongings of customers and it is essential to have employees with good moral values.
Does Wegmans run background checks?
Yes. Wegmans runs background checks on all its new hires. Typically, background check reports include criminal history, previous employment records, educational records, and credit reports as well. Which of these will be considered by the employer depends on the job role.
Usually, companies run background checks for the past 7 years but many have reported that Wegmans considers all the records and not just 7 years. Although this is unverified, it is better to be prepared.
In many states, you can get your records sealed or expunged after a certain period of time depending on the state laws.
Not all records can be expunged but most non-violent records can be expunged. Records that have been expunged do not show up on background checks and improve your odds of getting the job. You can consult a lawyer to find out if your records are eligible for expungement.
It is advisable to be honest about your records if it comes up during an interview. Any information that you try to hide will most likely come up during a background check.
So instead of hiding them, you can be honest about it and explain the circumstances that led to your conviction. In this way, you get a chance to highlight how you are a changed person and show them that you are putting effort to live an honest life.
Does Wegmans conduct drug tests?
All new employees – part and full time are drug tested before hiring. Failing a drug test can result in your employment offer getting canceled.
How to get hired at Wegmans with a felony record?
Wegmans is a regional supermarket chain with 105 stores: 48 in New York, 18 in Pennsylvania, 9 in New Jersey, 13 in Virginia, 8 in Maryland, 6 in Massachusetts, and three in North Carolina. It is one of the largest private companies in the U.S. employing more than 52,000 people. Wegmans is a family-owned company, founded in 1916, headquartered in Rochester, NY.
Wegmans provides employee benefits like flexibility in scheduling for work-life balance, employee discounts, premium pay on Sundays and holidays, affordable healthcare coverage, paid time off, and more.
To start working at Wegmans, you can visit their career portal and fill up a job application for a position that matches your skills. Wegmans job portal has an extensive description of each role and the career paths you can follow in each of them.
Final Thoughts
Store jobs are a great option for someone who is looking for an entry-level job. Flexible work schedules allow felons to complete education or learn a new skill in their non-working hours. If you are not able to find a job with a big company, entry-level jobs can help you get valuable experience and make some money in the process.