Our sources seem to agree Kohl’s will run a background check on all new employees. This is a standard practice for many companies, and isn’t necessarily a way to screen out applicants with criminal records. The information they’ll see when they do your background check can vary from one state to the next.
Here’s some useful information that’ll help you know what to expect from a background check in your state:
First, there are states where your background check will only go back seven years. If you live in one of these states, and your offense happened a long time ago, it probably won’t even come up on the report:
- California
- Colorado*
- Kansas*
- Maryland*
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire*
- New York*
- Texas*
- Washington*
(* Some positions may require more detailed checks.)
Next, there are states where your background check will not include any information about cases where you were found not guilty:
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Indiana (limited check)
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
In most other states, the background checks they conduct will bring up your entire record. This means they’ll also see cases where you were found not guilty. Don’t let this scare you, just know there’s a good chance they’ll see everything when they get the report in these states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- DC
- Delaware
- Florida
- Idaho
- Indiana (extensive check)
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Company ratings
It’s always helpful to know what current and former employees think of a company. We checked on glassdoor.com to see what people had to say about working at Kohl’s. The results of the 8,800+ reviews they’ve gotten left them with a 3.4 out of 5 star rating. And 60 percent of the people who worked there said they’d recommend the company to a friend.
What felonies Kohl’s will not hire
Kohl’s didn’t tell us any specific charge that would hold back your resume. See the next section for more information!
What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?
Does Kohl’s hire felons? It looks like many locations will give former felons a chance. If you have a felony in one of these categories, be aware it may make getting a job here more difficult:
- Theft, as you will be responsible for handling cash and merchandise.
- Child abuse, as Kohl’s caters a lot to families with small children.
- Violence or sexual offenses, as this could affect their family-friendly image.
Remember, every store is different. The management at your local store may be willing to give you a chance, even if your felony falls into one of the categories mentioned above.
Does Kohl’s hire sex offenders?
The company didn’t tell us, and there were no compelling responses online. We don’t know.
Does Kohl’s drug test?
Based on our research, it’s unlikely you’ll have to go through a pre-employment drug screening. However, if your offense involved drug use, they may make an exception. Otherwise, just be aware they reserve the right to do random drug screenings on all their employees.
Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!
If you’ve been able to get a job at Kohl’s with a felony, we’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment and let us know what the hiring process was like for you. Also, if you have any additional advice for others considering applying here, please let us know.