Skip to Navigation
If a supermarket seems like a good fit for you, it’s a big time saver to know which ones will and won’t hire felons. We profiled Shaw’s Supermarket — a chain recently bought by the mega-grocer Albertsons — and found answers to the question, does Shaw’s hire felons?
We know it’s not easy out there to find a job after a felony conviction. That’s why we’re here to help. We believe everybody deserves a chance to make a better life. Our process is simple and effective. Relaunch Pad has a great deal of experience helping people with criminal records get jobs.
To do that, we contact every company directly for their response, and save you time by showing you the best way to apply.
This article aims to answer a few questions, such as:
- Does Shaw’s hire felons?
- Does Shaw’s hire people with misdemeanors?
- How do I improve my chances of getting a job at Shaw’s with a felony?
- Does Shaw’s do background checks?
Let’s take a closer look at a grocery store called Shaw’s.
Does Shaw’s hire felons?
Official company policy for hiring felons
We contacted Shaw’s parent company, Albertson’s, Inc., to ask them if they hire felons. They provided us with the following statement:
“Albertsons LLC conducts criminal background checks as part of our normal hiring practices. Every job offer is conditioned upon completion of this background check and each and every job applicant’s history is considered on a case-by-case basis. All applications for employment are accepted online.”
The statement is pretty self-explanatory. However, it’s good to know you’ll be looked at individually!
Have they hired felons in the past?
Shaw’s Supermarkets did not comment on if they have previously hired felons or not. We have had confirmation from other sources that Albertsons Inc. has indeed hired felons in the past, however.
Does Shaw’s hire people with misdemeanors?
As we mentioned, Shaw’s Supermarkets has been known to hire people with felonies in their past, so it makes sense they’d be willing to hire people with misdemeanors as well.
Are they on the Ban the Box list?
The Ban the Box movement is an initiative by civil rights groups that aims to help those with criminal records get jobs by removing the check box on employment applications asking if you have any convictions.
Eleven states — California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington — have mandated the removal of conviction history questions from job applications for private employers. This is beneficial if you are applying for a job in one of these locations.
The Fair Chance Business Pledge was brought into the spotlight by the Obama Administration in 2016. It’s a call to action for companies in the private sector to eliminate barriers to offenders trying to re-enter society who need jobs.
In short, Shaw’s is not a part of the Ban the Box movement. Neither have they taken the Fair Chance Business Pledge. However, since they look at applicants on a case-by-case basis, don’t rule them out just yet.
Does Shaw’s have special programs for hiring felons?
The company did not tell us of any special programs for hiring felons. Our own research on this has concluded that they do not have any of these types of programs.
What are the odds that someone with a felony will get hired?
The odds are uncertain that Shaw’s Supermarkets will hire you if you have a felony. But, like we said before, they’ve been known to hire felons in the past. They also consider applicants on a case-by-case basis, so don’t give up on this company if you think you’d make a good fit and add value to the table.
What are some entry-level positions?
How to get hired at Shaw’s? If you focus on entry-level jobs, you are more likely to get a job at Shaw’s with a felony. There’s often room for growth, and you get to know the company better while being paid. At Shaw’s, entry-level positions are typically shift work-based and require very little education or experience.
Most store-level jobs look for people to help with stock (shelving and inventory, for example) or to run the cash register and work in customer service. There are tons of prep work positions, cleaning jobs and warehouse work, as well.
Check out their website for their most current job postings. You’ll notice some similarities between the jobs as you browse, so make some notes of what the positions need from you and launch into the next section . . .
How to get hired at Shaw’s with a felony
Start by reading our Ultimate Guide to Finding Jobs That Hire Felons. It lays out exactly what a former felon can do to maximize their chances of getting hired, despite a company’s policy.
Networking is probably the best method for getting hired at Shaw’s. Referrals and references are worth their weight in gold since hiring decisions are up to the store managers, with only guidelines laid out by the corporate office.
Some good tips to follow to get hired at Shaw’s with a felony:
- Based on the industry — do you have skills or knowledge about topics related to the grocery industry? Where and when did you gain this knowledge? Did you work in the prison kitchen, for instance, and therefore have food prep experience? Maybe you worked in the library, so know how to keep shelves stocked?
Since the company isn’t on Ban the Box, it’s a good idea to explain how prison has helped you grow as a person and how it has made you better trained for the job you’re applying for. It’ll come out eventually, so it’s always best to control the conversation yourself.
- Do some legwork online to perfect your resume — including information on correct punctuation, grammar and more. Go to a local job placement agency and get help with your resume. Be sure to let them know exactly what job you want to get, and what company it’s for.
Does Shaw’s do background checks?
Yes, it is a condition for employment, even if an offer has been made prior.
Here’s what you need to know about background checks:
Some states don’t even consider information more than seven years old. This means that if your offense was six years ago, you’ll want until next year to apply. This is also great news for former felons living in these states! If your felony conviction was seven years ago, these states won’t even look at them in the check:
- California
- Colorado*
- Kansas*
- Maryland*
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire*
- New York*
- Texas*
- Washington*
(* sometimes certain pay or salary bracket positions require one.)
Even better, there are states that don’t consider court cases were you were found not guilty. Eight states are currently on this list:
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
However, there are still some states that will look at your whole record. This includes your not guilty verdicts. Be aware, if you live in one of these states, that they will see everything:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- DC
- Delaware
- Florida
- Idaho
- Indiana
- 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
According to the ratings at glassdoor.com, Shaw’s received a 3 out of 5 star rating. Some of the reviews by former or current employees mentioned that Shaw’s was good to work for when it came to scheduling needs changing due to unforeseen circumstances. We know life happens, so appreciate when a company understands that, too.
What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?
While we know you can get a job here, some felonies will make it harder. Think about the job you’re applying to and your record . . . do you see any areas where they overlap? Avoid the overlap if you can by applying to a different position.
Some examples:
- If you have a theft on your record, or some sort of fraud, it’s best not to apply for a position that requires handling cash. It would be better to apply for a job such as a grocery bagger, shelf stocker or cashier.
- Sex crimes are always harder to find jobs with, so be persistent in your search and always speak to a hiring manager directly when possible to give yourself a chance to demonstrate your good qualities.
Don’t leave yourself open to being judged on paper alone without a chance to explain things in a better light.
Does Shaw’s drug test?
Some accounts say yes, some say no. Be prepared, just in case.
Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!
Here’s your chance to help others who are you in your shoes. Did the information in this article help you get a job at Shaw’s with a felony?
Tell us the good, the bad and the ugly. Let’s help our community!
