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Does McKesson Hire Felons in 2021?

By Last update May 17, 2019
jobs for felons, company profile, McKesson,McKesson Corporation, health care, healthcare

A job in health care can be very satisfying. If you agree, join us here where we’ll respond to the question: Does McKesson hire felons?

When it comes to providing pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and health information technology, McKesson is one of the largest U. S. companies. They’ve been filling and delivering prescriptions for customers for over 150 years. Company headquarters are in California and there are offices in nine states and several other countries.

Relaunch Pad specialized in researching jobs for felons. We contact each company directly to ask about their hiring policy for former felons. Therefore, if this is a company you want to work for, check out the detective work we did to find answers to this and other questions:

  • Do they have entry level-jobs for people without a lot of work experience?
  • How does McKesson do background checks?
  • Will I need to pass a drug test to get a job at McKesson with a felony?
  • Does McKesson hire people with misdemeanors?

We’re driven to find out all that we can about companies like McKesson. Furthermore, we know how to improve your chances of landing a job with a criminal record. That’s because we either have criminal records ourselves or have worked to help former felons like you.

Does McKesson hire felons?

jobs for felons, company profile, McKesson,McKesson Corporation, health care, healthcare

Official company policy for hiring felons

We’re in the process of reaching out to the company for their official response. Even so, we’ve done our research to find out what we can. Here’s a very encouraging quote from one of their job postings:

“Qualified applicants will not be disqualified from consideration for employment based upon criminal history.”

However, not only does the company say they treat applicants with criminal records fairly, but their website says that they follow EEOC requirements. This means that when they consider people for employment, they won’t discriminate on any grounds covered by the legislation.

Has McKesson hired felons in the past?

The company says in some job postings that all applicants are treated fairly, even if they have a criminal record. We’ve found employee confirmation online they’ve hired felons in the past.

Does McKesson hire people with misdemeanors?

We can find no employee comments online that say one way or another. However, if you can get hired with a felony, then you can likely get hired with a less serious misdemeanor offence.

Is McKesson on the Ban the Box list?

No, we can confirm that McKesson is not on the Ban the Box list. What’s more, they don’t appear to have taken the Fair Chance Business Pledge.

Let us explain what this means. Ban the Box companies have stepped up to show that they’re committed to giving all applicants an opportunity to be considered, regardless of having a criminal record. This means taking the criminal record check box off their application forms.

Similarly, the Fair Chance Business Pledge is a way for employers to show that they really want to level the playing field for job applicants. Taking the Pledge is a way to prove their intention to give everyone a fair chance, even if they are former felons.

Does McKesson have special programs for hiring felons?

There’s no evidence that the company has any special programs to help you get a job at McKesson with a felony.

What are the odds someone with a felony will get hired?

Average likelihood of being hired with a felony

In our opinion, the odds are average.

  1. We don’t yet have the official company policy on hiring former offenders.
  2. The company isn’t part of hiring initiatives for people with criminal records.
  3. Job postings say all applicants will be treated fairly, including those with a criminal record.
  4. We have online accounts that people who have felony offenses in their background have been hired here before.

What are some entry-level jobs?

Many of the positions McKesson hires for require post secondary education. But, we certainly did find some examples of entry-level jobs on their careers web page. These are listed below. Keep in mind that for some you’ll need a highschool diploma or equivalent. You may also need related work experience, so take a close look at what the postings say.

  • Material Handler — Handle shipping and receiving in distribution centre warehouse.
  • Pharmacy Support Assistant — Fill customer prescription orders.
  • Delivery Professional — Deliver prescriptions to customers’ homes.
  • Receptionist — Handle incoming phone calls and visitors and general office duties.
  • Customer Service Representative — Respond to customer questions and resolve their issues.

How to get hired at McKesson with a felony

The careers web page is a good place to begin your job search at the company. While you’re looking through job postings, make sure to click on the hiring process link. The information provided about how to apply and what to expect at an interview helps understand how to get hired at McKesson.

When you’re an ex-felon getting back into the job market, having clear knowledge of the hiring process is very valuable.

This page also has the McKesson Applicant Pledge and takes you to other helpful information such as employee videos. If your criminal record has you feeling nervous, just hearing from employees about what they like about the company may help.

So, after you know a little more about the company, start applying for open positions by setting up an account online. Remember, you’ll need to have a good resume.

Here’s another interesting way to apply for a job with the company. McKesson has an employee referral program. Current employees can actually earn cash rewards by referring someone they know! See if you can find an employee through your friends, family or acquaintances.

When you have an interview, you want to make the most of the opportunity. Here are our top tips to make a good first impression:

  • Smile politely and make eye contact with everyone you meet. You never know — that person you nodded to in the bathroom might just be the hiring manager!
  • Have your paperwork in order. This includes copies of your resume, reference list and any letters of recommendation. If there’s something the hiring manager doesn’t have at the ready, then you can give it to them.
  • Think of a concise response to any questions about your criminal record. You should be prepared to explain the circumstances. As well, you should tell the steps you’ve taken to get your life back on track.
  • Confirm the background check process to find out what’s involved. Then, be honest about what criminal information is likely to come up. Getting out ahead of things is always a good idea. It tells the hiring manager you’re serious about wanting a job with the company.
  • Remember to have a good question or two about the company saved for the end of the interview. This will also show you’re really interested in working for them.

Here’s one final tip: Did you know there’s a trend for applicants to send a thank you note to the hiring manager after an interview? This can be a small card in the mail or an email. Keep it brief! A comment like “Thanks for the opportunity to be interviewed” or “It was really nice to meet you at the interview” can go a long way.

Does McKesson do background checks?

McKesson does pre-employment background checks. This is according to online feedback from employees on indeed.com. The company website doesn’t say anything specific about this. Our advice is to be prepared that they may look into anything in your resume.

Take a look at the following important information about how background checks are handled by state:

The states on the list below look just at the last seven years of a criminal record:

  • California
  • Colorado*
  • Kansas*
  • Maryland*
  • Massachusetts
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire*
  • New York*
  • Texas*
  • Washington*

(* sometimes certain pay or salary bracket positions require one.)

Here’s some good news! Some states don’t want to know about charges where you were found not guilty. They are:

  • Alaska
  • California
  • Hawaii
  • Indiana (limited check)
  • Kentucky
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • New York

But be advised, most states want to see your whole record, even charges you were found not guilty of. Here’s the list:

  • 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

We checked out what people have to say about McKesson on both glassdoor.com and indeed.com. Both sites had quite a number of reviews and gave the company a similar rating. For example, based on 3,000 reviews, McKesson got 3.4 out of 5 on Glassdoor. They’re rated 3.6 out of 5 from their 4,600 reviews on Indeed.

60% of people who commented on Glassdoor said they would recommend the company to a friend. Here are some comments from McKesson employees:

“Great place, great people.”

“Good company, OK benefits”

“Great opportunities — you get out what you put in.”

“Good work-life balance, flexible hours, great pay.”

“This is not just a place to work, but to grow and learn.”

On Indeed, employees said some of the same things about working for McKesson and liked the company best for their pay and benefits and work-life balance.

Here’s another indication of what the company is like to work for. They’ve been named by Fortune as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies.

What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?

Does McKesson hire felons and, if so, does the type of charge have anything to do with getting the job? Seems like a solid yes to both.

Anyone with drug-related convictions may have difficulty getting a job with the company. We found only one online comment about this. The employee worked as a driver and commented: “I delivered all sorts of medicines, so I had to be Bonded; which restricted any drug conviction.” Keep in mind that if you have direct access to drugs in other jobs the company will want to know about any drug-related crimes.

Theft convictions may also cause you some difficulty getting hired. The reason is that many staff have access to medication and it’s usually small enough to hide and take home.

Finally, if you have a criminal background involving assault, this may pose a problem. McKesson needs staff who can work in a high-paced environment and deal all day with customers and sales representatives and still keep their cool.

Does McKesson drug test?

Yes, we can confirm you will need to pass a pre-employment drug test before starting work at McKesson. There are comments online from company employees that say so.

Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!

Step up and tell us what you know about how to get hired at McKesson! What personal experience do you have that will help our readers?

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Sandy Bell-Murray
Reentry Educator

Sandy Bell-Murray worked for more than thirty years for the Ontario public service, mainly in adult and youth justice. She began as a Probation and Parole Officer, then became a policy analyst, program supervisor and manager. Currently, she delivers workshops focused on building personal resilience and managing stress. She is an active member of Toastmasters International.