Does Publix Hire Felons In 2024?

Felons looking for work should consider applying for a job at Publix, as the supermarket chain is known to offer felon-friendly job opportunities.

Publix’s goal of “making shopping a pleasure” has helped the company grow to one of the largest employee-owned grocery chains in the United States.

It currently has over 1,300 stores throughout the United States, employing 240,000 people.

Felons are likely to come across several roles for Publix during their job searches. If you’re a felon looking for a job, you want to know that you’re not wasting your time if you apply to a Publix store.

This article examines whether Publix hires felons and what you can expect from the company’s hiring process.

Can a Felon Get a Job at Publix?

Publix has a track record of hiring felons for roles in both its grocery stores and warehouses. Furthermore, the company doesn’t ask about your criminal record as part of its application.

Publix isn’t a “Ban the Box” employer, which means while you won’t be asked about your status on a written application, hiring managers can still conduct background checks that could reveal your felony history.

Also, check out jobs that don’t require a background check.

Did you know? The “Ban the Box” campaign aims to make the hiring process fairer for felons. When companies join the campaign, they commit to asking no questions about a candidate’s criminal history as part of their written application processes.

Thankfully, Publix has no official hiring policy for former felons. As such, the discovery that you have committed a felony is not automatic grounds for application refusal at Publix.

Hiring managers consider each application on a case-by-case basis and will take several factors into account upon discovering your felony. These include:

-The nature of your crime
-Any extenuating circumstances surrounding the offense
=The length of time since you committed the offense

What Types of Jobs Can Felons Get at Publix?

As a grocery store chain, Publix has many roles available both in-store and in each store’s warehouse. Felons have the highest chance of getting hired to a store clerk or warehouse worker position.

According to the job website Indeed, store clerks receive an average hourly rate of $11.56, though this data comes from only five reported salaries.

Importantly, all store clerks become part of Publix’s stock ownership plan, which means they may reap financial benefits down the line.

Store clerks may handle a variety of roles, including stocking shelves, working with customers, and bagging groceries. They may also operate tills.

Warehouse workers receive a higher average hourly rate of $18.98 per hour, according to Indeed’s figures. This is 24% above the national average, making the role attractive to felons.

Warehouse workers also enjoy the same stock ownership plan benefits as store clerks, which gives them small slices of the Publix pie.

However, it’s important to note that warehouse work is more physically demanding than working as a store clerk. As such, felons who have physical challenges may not find this type of role suitable.

Finally, Publix has a team of 3,000 corporate staff that support the company’s stores. Its main headquarters is in Lakeland, Florida, though it has division offices in the following cities:

-Atlanta, Georgia
-Charlotte, North Carolina
-Jacksonville, Florida
-Miami, Florida

It’s possible for felons to land a corporate role at Publix, assuming they have the relevant experience and skills.

Again, the company’s lack of a specific hiring policy for felons may play to your advantage here.

However, you will need to demonstrate your ability to handle the responsibilities that come with a corporate role.

Furthermore, the company is less likely to hire felons to corporate positions that require working with sensitive information.

Which Felonies Reduce Your Chances of Getting a Job at Publix?

The nature of your felony influences your chances of getting hired at Publix.

Specifically, any felonies related to theft or financial crimes make it harder to get a role that involves handling cash.

As such, you’re less likely to get a role as a cashier if you have one of these felonies on your record. Thankfully, Publix offers other non-cash jobs, such as warehouse work, to which those with financial convictions can apply.

It’s also important to note that Publix is a public-facing business. As such, hiring managers have to consider the general public’s safety, in addition to the safety of staff members. Felons who have a history of violent or sexual crimes often find it difficult to find a public-facing role with the company.

Finally, Publix has some driving jobs for which felons may be eligible. However, having a driving-related conviction, such as a DUI (driving under the influence), lowers your chances of getting one of these jobs.

Pro Tip: Consider how the nature of your felony may affect your chances of getting a role before you apply with Publix. For example, those who have convictions related to money may have a better chance of succeeding if they focus on jobs that don’t involve handling cash.

Does Publix Run Background Checks?

Yes, Publix runs background checks on all candidates. The nature of these checks varies depending on the state. Some states make it impossible for companies to access information about criminal convictions if those convictions occurred over seven years ago. These states include California, Nevada, Montana, and Texas.

However, Publix primarily operates in states that allow your full criminal history to come up in a background check.

As such, you must prepare to answer questions about your felony conviction during your job interview, assuming the hiring manager asks. Furthermore, the possibility of a background check makes it inadvisable to omit mention of your record when applying.

A hiring manager may feel you’re attempting to fool them it you fail to mention a felony that later turns up in a background check.

Quick Tips for Getting a Job at Publix

If you have a felony conviction, you’ll find it harder to get a job at Publix than somebody who has a clean record. These quick tips give you an edge in the hiring process:

Take your time when completing your application to ensure there are no mistakes and that you’ve expanded on relevant skills as much as possible.

Make yourself readily available for interviews to demonstrate your willingness to work.
Focus on grooming and attire when you’re invited for an interview. First impressions matter. Trim your hair and nails. Plus, wear business-casual attire to the interview.

Think about the qualities you have that would make you an excellent employee. Emphasize those qualities during your interview.

Felons Can Get Jobs at Publix

Publix has a long track record of hiring people with misdemeanor and felony convictions. That means your chances of landing a role are higher with Publix than they are with many other grocery chains.

Think about how the nature of your felony may affect a hiring manager’s thought process before applying for a role.

202By focusing your application on positions that have no relation to your felony, you increase your chances of securing a job at Publix.