Hey I recently applied for a job at one of the Dillons (same as Krogers) we have here in Wichita, KS. I was called in for an interview which went really well I thought and was ready to be given a job pending a drug screen and a background check. I passed the drug screen no problem, but the background check resulted in a "do not hire" conclusion, and I have no idea why!! There are only 2 times I've been in trouble in my adult life and I disclosed those situations as fully as possible right up front. One was a DUI that I got about 7 years ago.
The one happened over 2 years ago now and is either called "misdemeanor theft" or "misdemeanor theft of services", and what happened was my electricity went out, so I plugged my phone into the appartment's electricity. A cop gave me a warning and told me to unplug it which I did. Then however many months later I come to find out they actually decided to charge me with it!! We're talking about maybe a dollar's worth of electricity here at most that wasn't mine, seems ridiculous, but whatever, I owned up to the situation like a responsible adult and the judge was really nice and didn't fine me. The judge even waived the court costs! It really doesn't get more petty than that when it comes to a criminal history.
That's it! But for some reason my background check is apparently not good enough to be able to work in a grocery store, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY! The hiring manager was good to go but said the decision was out of her control, and that the background check people just send them a "yes" or "no" decision based on criteria given by Dillons/Kroger. So I called the background check people and they said they just do the check and don't make the hiring decision. So not only do I have no idea why my background check didn't pass, I also have NO IDEA WHO made this decision or who to talk to about it.
If anyone has information about my situation then PLEASE help me figure out what to do. I'm a GOOD person, and a good worker, and I deserve a chance here. I really wanted and need this job, was excited for it even.
But some person who I've never met thought I didn't deserve that chance based on god knows what!
I am not a "thief" even though the background check probably says "misdemeanor theft" on it. And I was honest and upfront about the whole situation right from the get-go, mentioned it on the application itself.
Please. Help me understand what is going on here and why I'm "not a good enough person" to work in a grocery store.
Any info or ideas will be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time.
Only thing I can tell you is either you or an attorney need to contact the state's attorney office and get your record expunged. Otherwise, it'll probably keep coming back to haunt you.
Whomever red-lighted you doesn't know the details you described, nor do they care. They just saw a record. Good luck~
That's why I'm trying to figure out who this nameless, faceless person is making such an uninformed yet important decision, and why they made it. And they should care because I'd be awesome at the job, and potentially work for them for a really long time.
It baffles me how the hiring manager of the store who has met me and conducted an interview with me and gotten to know me a bit isn't allowed to hire me because some other nameless/faceless person who has never even met me decided against it.
How do I find out why I didn't pass the background check and who could I possibly speak to to try to change their mind?
That's why I'm trying to figure out who this nameless, faceless person is making such an uninformed yet important decision, and why they made it. And they should care because I'd be awesome at the job, and potentially work for them for a really long time.
It baffles me how the hiring manager of the store who has met me and conducted an interview with me and gotten to know me a bit isn't allowed to hire me because some other nameless/faceless person who has never even met me decided against it.
How do I find out why I didn't pass the background check and who could I possibly speak to to try to change their mind?
A lawyer.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
That's why I'm trying to figure out who this nameless, faceless person is making such an uninformed yet important decision, and why they made it. And they should care because I'd be awesome at the job, and potentially work for them for a really long time.
It baffles me how the hiring manager of the store who has met me and conducted an interview with me and gotten to know me a bit isn't allowed to hire me because some other nameless/faceless person who has never even met me decided against it.
How do I find out why I didn't pass the background check and who could I possibly speak to to try to change their mind?
Look, you're not going to find that out even if a lawyer somehow subpoenas H.O. (which would cost you at least your first year's salary at Kroger anyway). Stop fixating on all the good they're missing in you, and start fixing what is guaranteed going to keep holding you back in the future----your criminal record. And it's most likely not the D.U.I., it's the theft record.
Its the Awesome manager that you thought was all cool w/it that made the final call, not some "nameless,faceless" person you descibe. They never intended on giving you the chance, then blamed someone else.
Get over it, move on, and find a job that doesnt care so much. Or try and get that off your record. Either way dont waste any more time on that store.
I run a blog about background checks www.transparentme.com/blog
I think there are a few things in play here.
- The DUI conviction is still on your record. Some states have laws that say an employer can't look at convictions over 7 years old. In Kansas an employer can't look back past 7 years, but, only if the job pays less than $20K per year. If the job pays over $20K per year, they can look back at your record pretty much forever. So, I think the DUI is showing up - probably not a huge deal because it is 7 years old, but, it's still there.
- the misdemeanor theft is probably the thing they are freaking out - it just doesn't look like a smart move to hire someone for a retail job with that on their background (or a job with a retailer)
- Saying no to a job candidate is a tricky proposition. The feds are cracking down it. In Kansas, the law says "No employer shall be liable for any employment decision or decision to enter into a contract with an independent contractor based upon knowledge of such criminal history record information, provided the information that led to the employment or contracting decision reasonably bears upon the independent contractor's, applicant's or employee's trustworthiness, or the safety or well-being of the employer's employees or customers."
- I think the 'theft' gives them ample reason to deny you based on 'trustworthiness'
What to do next?
- you are entitled to a copy of the background check that they used (this is a federal law). You should check it out and see what they found. There may have been something else on there by mistake (identity theft), or a clerical error of some sort. If there are errors, you have 60 days to dispute them with the company that made the Background Check report.
- It's a tough situation. You probably have a half of a chance convincing the hiring manager to take you anyway. . . but, it will be tough. You may want to get a copy of the police report and maybe show them that, and if you can get to work on expungement ASAP, it could help. Approach the hiring manager and be very polite, and say that you really want to help, and are willing to do whatever it takes. . .
I once had an applicant for a group home I was running who had everything going for him: I was all green lights. My boss killed the deal. He was a male homosexual and she a heterosexual, so there was no conflict there.
When I asked her why she crushed it, she said "doesn't matter. I didn't like him."
She was the one who looked at my application and called me in to interview in the first place. And she already saw what I wrote on the application and said she wouldn't have called me in to interview had she thought it would be an issue.
And it could easily have been out of her controll, similar to failing a drug test. If you fail you are simply not eligible for the job anymore and the hiring manager really can't do anything about it. Same with the background check; it"failed" so the hiring manager had to do what she was told by corporate or whoever.
Except with the background check, they cant scientifically analize something like your urine in a machine that spits out an answer either positive or negative. you're either clean or you're not. There would have to be soooo much grey area when it comes to a person's life history. Therefore someone would have to go over the details, use their judgement and make a decision about it.
And I don't belive that person was the same lady who interviewed me.
And yes I'd love to get the thing expunged but you have to wait so many years before they'd even consider it. That time hasn't come yet and won't come for another year or two (I do need to specifically figure out when that is) and I'm gunna need a job before a year or two pass.
Go to your city's court website and do a search on yourself. You'd then see what records you have on you. I would consider writing the judge a letter and maybe he can do something for you. Worth the try
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
no ****, jerk hole, it's the equivalent of taking a dime out of the take-a-penny-leave-a-penny jar, but instead criminal charges are brought against you cuz ya know! hey! you gotta have principles, right? **** petty ass humanity
Now you can understand how frustrating and demoralizing convicted felons find in trying to find a job. And keep in mind many felines in this country did nothing that hurt anyone else. Many have, but many more have a record for something g relatively petty and, like you, many times for something they didn't even know was a felony or wasn't until the fairly recent past. . If they served their sentence ( and I 80% of felonies there is no jail time! just probation/ fine/ community service) and yet that felony, albeit for a minor thing, stays on their record for life. States that do not have a "ban the box" law allow employers to ask about felonies on the application and those with yes answer, are immediately thrown out without ever being read. Yet, society criticizes these people for not working! I don't know a single such person who would turn down a job.....any job....if they were offered it. They would much rather work than live I. Food stamps and charity. Maybe this will open the eyes of many people
Anyone with any convictions involving any type of theft or integrity issues can pretty much assume that they will not be hired my any retail business. If you insist on working in this field can get bonded by the federal government. Try looking up information on the federal bonding program. It may help to tell employers that you can get bonded.
I have a petty theft charge on my record from 2012 And I have already got the job at Kroger but what are the chafed they terminate my employment because of it?
Hey I recently applied for a job at one of the Dillons (same as Krogers) we have here in Wichita, KS. I was called in for an interview which went really well I thought and was ready to be given a job pending a drug screen and a background check. I passed the drug screen no problem, but the background check resulted in a "do not hire" conclusion, and I have no idea why!! There are only 2 times I've been in trouble in my adult life and I disclosed those situations as fully as possible right up front. One was a DUI that I got about 7 years ago.
The one happened over 2 years ago now and is either called "misdemeanor theft" or "misdemeanor theft of services", and what happened was my electricity went out, so I plugged my phone into the appartment's electricity. A cop gave me a warning and told me to unplug it which I did. Then however many months later I come to find out they actually decided to charge me with it!! We're talking about maybe a dollar's worth of electricity here at most that wasn't mine, seems ridiculous, but whatever, I owned up to the situation like a responsible adult and the judge was really nice and didn't fine me. The judge even waived the court costs! It really doesn't get more petty than that when it comes to a criminal history.
That's it! But for some reason my background check is apparently not good enough to be able to work in a grocery store, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY! The hiring manager was good to go but said the decision was out of her control, and that the background check people just send them a "yes" or "no" decision based on criteria given by Dillons/Kroger. So I called the background check people and they said they just do the check and don't make the hiring decision. So not only do I have no idea why my background check didn't pass, I also have NO IDEA WHO made this decision or who to talk to about it.
If anyone has information about my situation then PLEASE help me figure out what to do. I'm a GOOD person, and a good worker, and I deserve a chance here. I really wanted and need this job, was excited for it even.
But some person who I've never met thought I didn't deserve that chance based on god knows what!
I am not a "thief" even though the background check probably says "misdemeanor theft" on it. And I was honest and upfront about the whole situation right from the get-go, mentioned it on the application itself.
Please. Help me understand what is going on here and why I'm "not a good enough person" to work in a grocery store.
Any info or ideas will be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time.
They did the same thing to me, but my 1 charge, a drug charge was OVER 18 YEARS OLD!
Do the expungement through an attorney and the theft will not be on your record no more. Plus it will show those around you that you are willing to go to that length to have that wiped from your name. You should then feel a sense of pride and accomplishment within yourself. I would if I knew that in you did that much for yourself. Dont ever give up brother. Im proud for you to take things this far. Itd be a high five for sure you take it a step farther brother.
