Yes. KeHE hires people with felony convictions and supports second-chance hiring. KeHE actively recruits people with criminal records, is a member of the Second Chance Business Coalition, and partners with organizations that help formerly incarcerated people find work.
They won’t hire every felon, though. KeHE runs background checks on applicants, and your offense, its age, and the position you’re applying for can affect the decision.
But if you’re looking for an employer that offers second-chance hiring, KeHE is well worth applying to.
Does KeHE Have a Felony Hiring Policy?
The company proudly describes itself as a fair-chance employer and says it wants to provide opportunities for people to rebuild their lives after incarceration through meaningful work.
In October 2024, KeHE joined the Second Chance Business Coalition, a group of major employers offering employment opportunities for people with criminal records.
On the KeHE careers website Hidden Talent page, people with criminal records are specifically listed among the groups the company wants to recruit.
More felony-friendly signals from KeHE:
- KeHE’s careers website features a testimonial from a freight driver – also a convicted felon – who has worked for the company for 15 years. He says KeHE gives employees the tools to succeed regardless of their background and treats workers equally whether they have a college degree or a criminal background.
- KeHE also works with Honest Jobs, an employment platform aimed at job seekers looking for work after incarceration. This partnership gives the company access to more than 150,000 job seekers with criminal records.
- Partnership with FreeWorld, an organization that helps convicted felons get trucking jobs.
Does KeHE Run a Background Check?
Yes. You should expect a background check when you apply for a job with KeHE. Current and former employees confirm that background checks are part of the hiring process.
Being a fair-chance employer doesn’t mean KeHE ignores criminal records. The company will still consider whether your conviction is a genuine concern for the position you want.
Hiring decisions depend on the type of offense on your record, with violent and theft offenses being a potential problem.
Federal guidance recommends that employers considering criminal records look at three factors:
- The nature and seriousness of the offense
- How much time has passed since the offense or completion of the sentence
- The duties and responsibilities of the job being filled
One driver hired back in 2018 said KeHE employed him despite having two felony convictions (from 2004 and 2006) on his record.
When he contacted the company, the HR representative told him KeHE was primarily concerned about recent criminal activity and patterns of arrests.
What Felonies Could Make It Harder to Get Hired?
KeHE doesn’t automatically disqualify applicants with felony convictions, but some convictions could still create problems for certain positions.
- Recent theft or fraud convictions could be an issue for jobs involving inventory, financial information, or purchasing
- Recent violent offenses could make some positions harder to get
- Driving convictions will be relevant if you’re applying for one of KeHE’s CDL positions
Can You Get a KeHE Driving Job With a Felony?
Potentially, yes. We’ve already seen one long-term employee featured on KeHE’s Hidden Talent page working as a freight driver with a felony conviction.
KeHE’s current CDL job listings also describe the company as a fair-chance employer and encourage people looking for a fresh start to apply.
But CDL jobs have additional rules that warehouse positions don’t. A felony by itself doesn’t prevent someone from holding a CDL or working as a truck driver, but a recent DUI conviction is disqualifying.
Does KeHE Drug Test?
You should be prepared for a drug test, particularly if you’re applying for a warehouse, forklift, or driving position.
Some applicants report mouth-swab testing; others said they took a urine test. One warehouse worker said an oral test was carried out after the job offer, with a urine test used when the first result was inconclusive.
Do They Test for Marijuana?
KeHE operates in multiple states with different marijuana laws, so don’t assume that legal marijuana use in your state means it won’t matter during hiring.
Marijuana use is also prohibited for CDL drivers under federal Department of Transportation rules.
What KeHE Jobs Are Good Options for People With Felonies
Depending on the location, jobs at KeHE distribution centers include:
- Warehouse associate
- Order selector
- Loader
- Receiver
- Sanitation worker
- Forklift operator
- Inventory positions
- Delivery driver
- CDL Class A driver
- Maintenance roles
- Administrative and corporate positions
Entry-level warehouse work is worth looking at if you need to get back into steady employment.
The requirements for a current KeHE warehouse associate posting, for example, focus on safe working practices, attendance, building pallets accurately, meeting production standards, and protecting company information.
If you already have warehouse, forklift, logistics, trucking, food distribution, manufacturing, or physical labor experience, focus on applying for jobs that specifically ask for that experience.
Should You Tell KeHE About Your Felony?
Answer criminal-history questions on the application honestly. If you’re asked to provide details, listing the offense and the date of the conviction is usually all that’s required.
At your interview, if you’re asked for more details, explain what happened, take responsibility, then focus on your recent work record, training, and rehabilitation.
That might include several years without another offense, steady employment, completing probation or parole, earning a CDL or forklift certification, attending training, or taking on positions with greater responsibility.
Is KeHE a Good Company to Apply to With a Felony?
Yes, KeHE is high on the list of employers to try if you have a felony conviction. But there’s no guarantee you’ll be hired.
- Background checks are part of the process
- Individual jobs have different requirements
- Some convictions will be a problem for certain positions
But KeHE’s active second-chance hiring program makes them one of the best options for felons.
The company:
- Calls itself a fair-chance employer
- Recruits people with criminal records
- Belongs to the Second Chance Business Coalition
- Partners with Honest Jobs and organizations serving justice-impacted workers
- Has current job advertisements encouraging applicants looking for a fresh start
- Publicly features a freight driver with a felony conviction who has worked for KeHE for 15 years
If you have the experience for an open KeHE position, a felony record shouldn’t stop you from applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does KeHE hire people with violent felonies?
Possibly. KeHE doesn’t automatically reject applicants with violent felony convictions. One employee said they were hired despite an older assault-with-a-firearm felony.
That doesn’t guarantee another applicant with a violent offense will be hired, though, because the age and circumstances of the conviction, and the job being applied for, all affect the decision.
Does KeHE hire people with drug felonies?
Yes, at least in some cases. KeHE hires people with criminal records, and employee reports include applicants with previous drug felonies.
CDL applicants need to be careful, though, because some drug felonies involving the use of a vehicle can result in federal CDL disqualification.
Can you work at KeHE while on probation or parole?
Employees have reported seeing KeHE workers wearing ankle monitors. Although that’s not the same as an official company hiring policy, that information, together with KeHE’s broader fair-chance hiring program, makes the company worth applying to if you’re currently under supervision.
But make sure your probation or parole conditions allow you to work the schedule and perform the job.