13 Biggest Companies That Hire Felons
These 13 biggest companies that hire felons give us a whole new perspective about life after being behind bars. With a complex society, the convicted will tend to detach themselves. How much worse for those convicted of a felony? If you can't contain your curiosity on what companies made it to the top 5, click away to the 5 biggest companies that hire felons.
Competition is everywhere. Some people convince themselves that they are just living the way they see fit. However, we can never avoid competition, and there will always be those type of people who think everything is all about winning. Being insensitive affects the people who are fighting their demons and trying to get a better disposition in life. There are a lot of inspirational quotes and messages going around social media to ease the panic most of us go through this pandemic. Among these quotes, there is this famous line, "We are all on the same boat". I hate to break the bubble; we are never on the same boat. The US leads the territories with the most billionaires with 614 of them in 2020, and despite losing his divorce settlement of $36 billion worth of his Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) stock, still, Jeff Bezos claimed the top spot of the world's richest in 2020. You see, people who run in the same circle with the billionaires never have to worry about finances to have a meal three times a day. However, people from the middle class and lower class have to go through their day to day battles to bring food on the table. More so, the ones who belong to the poverty line have to strive to survive even without the basic needs. If you get the picture, law-abiding citizens get their fair share of bumps along the way. How hard can it get for someone convicted of a felony?
Pixabay/Public Domain
For someone who has zero experience with incarceration, we will never know the feeling of life in prison and after prison. Yes, empathy is there but do we know anything about their struggles? The US holds 2.12 million people who committed various crimes, and each inmate has their story, maybe because of a troubled childhood or that desperation to make it through the day. Life behind bars runs on a scheduled basis, waking hour, time to eat, and all other activities. Programs are also available to prepare them for life outside the prison cell when it is time for them to utilize that second shot at life. The adjustment outside the bars depends on the period being behind it, especially for those convicted with a felony who are the ones taking up much time behind bars. Also, that determination to start anew will be a motivational drive to make decent money for a living. It will be overwhelming to take the first step to get on track. It will be frustrating for them to see that things are not the same before they got locked in jail, so they will need all the support they can get. It will not come easy, and discrimination will always say hello at any time of the day. However, these are not reasons to revert to old ways and hang with old friends that brought you behind bars.
A person who got out of jail is not up for the competition. They are up for the chance and acceptance that the crime they committed is way in the past. To make a living means getting a job, a legal and decent one. There are plenty of choices, but our list of biggest companies that hire felons is a perfect start in which companies to look for a job. Apply for jobs widely to both local employers and big companies. Know which job will most likely hire a felon and also fits your capability and skills. As mentioned in our previous list of 10 biggest companies that hire felons, the Ban the Box and Fair Chance Pledge is a campaign to hire ex-convicts. Stated also are industries which provide higher chance ex-offenders in rebooting their life. We have Sodexo (SW.PA), McDonald's (NYSE:MCD), and Starbucks (NASDAQGS:SBUX), to mention a few. The aim of these campaigns is for applicants with criminal records to maximize showing off their qualifications. It also lessens discrimination towards ex-offenders, higher chance to get hired, and lesser possibility for them to re-offend. However, various insights about Ban the Box and Fair Chance Pledge are stirring up public opinion. Some see it as a positive move to help an ex-offender while some see it ineffective. Hiring a felon is at the discretion of the employer, and digging into records is inevitable.
Since we are going to list the biggest companies that hire felons, we need to find out which companies belong to this group. Forbes Global 2000 published The World's Largest Public Companies for 2020, though felony-friendly jobs are not available in some companies in the list. While recovering from a minute-shock upon seeing the data, the priority is companies under Fair Chance Pledge and Ban the Box. Obama White House Archives consist of companies that signed the Fair Chance Pledge. We also got hold of companies with a history of hiring felons from an online community Jail to Job and job search engine Glassdoor where former employees leave an anonymous review to their former companies. It is high time to check which made it to the to our list and using the market value to determine the rank.
13. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Market Value - $144.2 Billion
When it's all about electric vehicles and clean energy, Tesla, Inc. is the company you are looking for. Felons hired in this company varies from its locations. Tesla also runs a background check, and results vary depending on what state. Once hired, make sure to leave a good impression. If, in any case, you want to change your career, you have an impressive employment record at Tesla.
Hadrian / Shutterstock.com
12. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)
Market Value - $162.9 Billion
Abbott Laboratories has about 107,000 employees, and this company made it to the list of Best Employers for Diversity in 2020. Abbott Laboratories management believes that having a diverse workforce is a strength. It is not about the numbers of people working yet the skills and knowledge each one imparts that is a contribution to this multinational health care and medical devices company.
Pixabay/Public Domain
11. Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)
Market Value - $171.7 Billion
Who would have thought that Comcast Corporation, an American telecommunications conglomerate hires ex-offenders? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, one of the values that this company implement. They do not limit to having more population of women, people of color, and gender. There is no specific program for ex-offenders but let us not forget it depends on the position that will best fit the qualifications.
Pixabay/Public Domain
10. PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP)
Market Value - $183.6 Billion
PepsiCo, Inc. is all about manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of various products such as beverages and grain-based snacks. Being employed (with a felony on your record) in this American multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation is an opportunity. Ensure to be on your best behavior.
Pixabay/Public Domain
9. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
Market Value - $197.1 Billion
It so happened that The Coca-Cola Company has a higher market value than the one in item number 11. They firmly believe that learning, personal growth, and the opportunity to make a mark has no limits. There is no specific mention in their hiring policy when it comes to ex-offenders. However, their internal guidelines concerning the committed crime are highly confidential. There is also no checkbox for a past felony in The Coca-Cola Company application form. They are not part of the Ban the Box movement though this company shares the concept.
Pixabay/Public Domain
8. AT&T (NYSE:T)
Market Value - $218.6 Billion
Careers at AT&T promotes inclusion. This multinational conglomerate holding company is part of breaking the stigma towards ex-offenders. A prominent first impression will land you a higher chance of landing the job. Doing a background check is part of the process but varies from one state to another. Assessing oneself is an edge, especially knowing the previous charges that put you behind bars. So, if in any chance you were involved with fraud or charged with computer crime, there is a slim to no chance of getting that job.
Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com
7. The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD)
Market Value - $236.1 Billion
The Home Depot, Inc. is part of the Ban the Box campaign and markets itself as a felon-friendly employer. Just like the first ones that boarded the list, The Home Depot, Inc. has its screening process that encompasses a criminal background check. The chances of getting hired to depend on the result. When you happen to fall on the 'Red' flag, the company will rescind the job offer.
ThreeRivers11 / Shutterstock.com
6. Verizon Communications, Inc. (NYSE:VZ)
Market Value - $237.7 Billion
Similar to most companies, Verizon Communications, Inc. does background checks on their applicants. Chances of getting hired are on a case to case basis that also concerns the weight of your previous charge. You may also consider the state laws since hiring felons in each state varies, respectively. But Verizon Communications, Inc. is a global entity, plenty of jobs your skills may qualify awaits. Maintain a good record so you can stay with Verizon for years.
Click to continue reading and see the 5 biggest companies that hire felons. Disclosure: 13 biggest companies that hire felons is originally published at Insider Monkey.
