Does Starbucks Hire Felons?

Does Starbucks Hire Felons in 2024? We are about to find out everything about Starbucks hiring process.

Starbucks is a company with a very progressive image. They give the impression that they stand up for oppressed minorities, and if you’ve been inside a Starbucks recently, you’ve probably noticed prominent messaging about the causes dear to the coffee giant’s pumpkin spiced heart.

But does their commitment to social justice extend to felons who happen to be one of the most discriminated against groups in America today?

You won’t find feel-good messages about felons scribbled in pink chalk on the walls of your local Starbucks, but actions speak louder than words. Does Starbucks hire felons or do their progressive policies stop short of giving felons a second chance?

Will Starbucks Hire You If You Have A Felony?

Good news! Starbucks is open to hiring felons.

They won’t hire every felon who applies to them, they’re a business not a charity, but they will consider your application.

Back in 2016, Starbucks were one of the companies already on board when President Obama launched the Fair Chance Business Pledge.

At the launch, Starbucks gave a commitment to ‘Ban The Box’ on application forms, and to delay criminal background checks until after a conditional job offer has been made.

They went on to say that they will evaluate an applicants criminal record on a case-by-case basis.

And we know from employee feedback that Starbucks has a record of hiring felons.

Starbucks job listings also include a notice informing applicants that they will consider applications from qualified applicants with a criminal background.

So it’s safe to say that when you apply for a job at Starbucks, you won’t face automatic disqualification and you’ll have the chance to explain the circumstances around your offense.

Will Starbucks Hire Someone With A Misdemeanor?

As a second chance employer, Starbucks will consider applicants with a misdemeanor on their record. Misdemeanors are less serious than felony offenses and since they are open to hiring to felons, your misdemeanor won’t automatically disqualify you.

Some misdemeanor offenses could result in your application being rejected though, and Starbucks looks at each application on a case-by-case basis.

Does Starbucks Carry Out Background Checks?

As we already mentioned, Starbucks will carry out a background check as part of the hiring process. The background check won’t take place until you’ve been interviewed and the Starbucks manager wants to offer you a job.

It’s a good idea to mention your felony during your interview so you can fully explain your situation and present your character references.

Starbucks managers usually let you know at the end of the interview if they’re thinking about hiring you, and you’ll receive an email soon afterwards with instructions for initiating your background check.

Keep an eye on your inbox and junk folder so you don’t miss the email.

To start the background check, you’ll need to provide some basic information, ID, and your social security number.

The background check will confirm your identity and social security number, and search criminal record databases to find out about arrests, charges, and misdemeanor and felony convictions.

How Far Back Does The Starbucks Background Check Go?

Your background check will search for criminal records going back at least 7 years. Some states impose a 7 year limit and background checks can’t search beyond that. Those states are:

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

Depending on the state, the 7 year limit can include your parole or probation date, and prison release date, which makes it possible for convictions older than 7 years to be reported.

You should take a look at the background check rules for the state that you live in to know exactly how far back background reports can go. Some Starbucks employees have said that their background checks included offenses going back 10 years. They still got the job though!

The background check doesn’t normally take a long time and you should know the outcome in a few days to one week, but sometimes during busy periods it can take a couple of weeks to get the result.

What Happens If You Fail the Background Check?

If you fail the Starbucks background check and your conditional job offer is withdrawn, you’ll have the opportunity to appeal the decision.

When you fail the background check, you’ll receive a pre adverse action notice. The notice informs you that disqualifying information was obtained during your background check.

You’ll be offered a free copy of your background report so you can check the report for accuracy. You should take them up on that offer and go over your report carefully because mistakes can happen.

Even if everything on the report is accurate, it’s worth appealing. The notice will give you a number to call to start the appeal process. Then Starbucks will send you an email with a few questions they want you to answer.

After the questions, there’s a section for more information. And this is where you should enter as much detail as you can about the circumstances around your offense and your life back then, and how you’ve changed since that time.

Starbucks will review your information and then make a decision.

What Disqualifies You From Working At Starbucks?

Even though Starbucks is open to hiring felons, there are some offenses which will most likely disqualify you.

Offences involving violence or sexual offences will be a problem because Starbucks has to consider the safety of staff and customers.

If you’ve got theft on your criminal record, that will also be an issue, because you’ll be responsible for handling money, and credit and debit cards.

Even so, you’ve got nothing to lose by completing an application and attending a short interview.

Does Starbucks Conduct Drug Test?

For most positions, you won’t need to take a drug test during the Starbucks hiring process.

However, Starbucks is a drug-free workplace, so you can’t show up to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and you could be asked to take a drug test if you appear to be intoxicated.

If the Starbucks you’ve applied to work is part of another establishment like Starbucks at Safeway or Starbucks at an airport, you may need to take a drug test to meet the requirements of the other business.

Should you be asked to take a drug test, you’ll need to supply either a urine sample or a saliva sample which will be screened using a standard 5-panel test.

The substances tested for are:

• Opiates
• Cocaine
• Marijuana
• Amphetamine and methamphetamine
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

What Does Starbucks Look For In An Employee?

Starbucks wants to offer their customers more than a good cup of coffee. They want to give their customers a satisfying experience that ensures they’ll come back again and again and again. So your attitude is really important.

Ideally, you’ll be friendly, energetic, and enthusiastic, with a desire to engage with customers and give them a fantastic Starbucks experience. Being a serious coffee nerd will be a big plus too.

You’ll also need to be comfortable working as part of a team in a fast-paced (and sometimes stressful) environment.

Managers will be on the lookout for candidates that have barista experience although that isn’t absolutely essential because full training is provided. That said, having some customer service experience will be helpful.

Starbucks gets a huge number of applications, so you should call or go to the store you’ve applied to after you submit your application.

Most people won’t bother with this extra step, so you can gain an edge by popping in to the store with your resume, cover letter, and a note about your availability.

Ask if you can speak with the manager for a few minutes and let them know that you’ve submitted your application and would love to work for the company. Hand over your resume and let them know you can come in for an interview anytime.

Displaying motivation and initiative goes a long way these days.

Does Starbucks Hire Felons – Quick Summary

As a second chance employer, Starbucks will consider applications from individuals with criminal backgrounds. This includes individuals with misdemeanor or felony convictions.

You won’t have to disclose your criminal record on your initial application, and that means you’ll have the opportunity to attend an interview and be evaluated based on your skills, experience, and attitude.

Starbucks will carry out a background check once a conditional job offer has been made, so it’s important to be honest about your past.

The company has hired felons in the past and as long as your offenses aren’t too serious and you appear to be a good fit in all other respects, you’ve got a good chance of being hired.