Felony Friendly Jobs in Atlanta, GA
Atlanta is a major economic hub in the Southeast with strong opportunities for people with records. The city is home to major logistics operations — UPS has its worldwide headquarters here, and the metro area has dozens of Amazon, FedEx, and UPS facilities. Home Depot, Waffle House, and Chick-fil-A are all headquartered in the Atlanta metro. The film and entertainment industry has also brought new warehouse and production jobs to the area.
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Top Employers in Atlanta That Hire People With Records
These companies have locations in or near Atlanta, GA and are known to consider applicants with criminal records.
Amazon hires people with felony records for most warehouse and delivery roles. Background checks are individualized.
Walmart considers applicants with records on a case-by-case basis. Violent and theft-related felonies may disqualify.
UPS hires felons for package handler roles. Driver and management positions have stricter background requirements.
Home Depot considers applicants with records individually. Theft and violent felonies may be disqualifying.
Waffle House is known to be very felon-friendly with high-volume hiring and 24/7 operations.
Goodwill is one of the most felon-friendly employers. Their mission includes helping people with barriers to employment.
Kroger hires people with records for many store and warehouse positions. Pharmacy roles are more restricted.
Chick-fil-A is franchise-operated and more selective, but some locations do hire people with records.
Best Industries in Atlanta for People With Records
- ✓Logistics & distribution
- ✓Film & entertainment
- ✓Healthcare
- ✓Food service
- ✓Construction
Staffing Agencies in Atlanta That Work With People With Records
Temp and staffing agencies are often the fastest way to get working. These agencies serve the Atlanta metro area and are known to place people with criminal records.
- Manpower
- Express Employment Professionals
- Adecco
- Kelly Services
- Labor Finders
Georgia Employment Laws for People With Records
Ban the Box Status
Georgia has no statewide ban-the-box law for private employers. Atlanta passed a ban-the-box ordinance for city government employment. Several large Atlanta employers voluntarily follow fair chance practices.
Fair Chance Hiring Law
Georgia does not have a statewide fair chance hiring law for private employers. The city of Atlanta has removed criminal history questions from city job applications. Federal EEOC guidelines apply.
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr (federal minimum — Georgia's state minimum is $5.15 but federal rate applies)
Tips for Job Searching With a Record in Atlanta
- 1.Start with staffing agencies. Temp agencies are often the fastest way to get working. They have relationships with employers who are willing to hire people with records, and a temp-to-hire position can become a permanent job.
- 2.Apply to multiple places at once. Do not wait for one application to come back before applying to the next. Apply to 5-10 places in the same week. The more applications you send, the better your chances.
- 3.Be honest about your record. If asked, be upfront. Lying about your criminal history is grounds for immediate termination if discovered later. Briefly acknowledge what happened, explain what you have learned, and focus on what you bring to the job.
- 4.Focus on industries with high demand. Warehouse, logistics, construction, and food service jobs tend to be the most accessible for people with records because these industries have chronic worker shortages.
- 5.Use local reentry programs. Organizations like Goodwill, workforce development centers, and reentry coalitions can connect you with employers who actively hire people with records. They often know about job openings before they are publicly posted.
- 6.Know your rights. Under the EEOC guidelines, employers must use individualized assessment — they cannot have a blanket ban on hiring people with records. Under the FCRA, you have the right to see and dispute your background check. If you are in a ban-the-box state or city, employers cannot ask about your record until later in the hiring process.
Reentry Employment Programs in Atlanta
- Georgia Department of Labor
- Goodwill of North Georgia
- Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency
- Safer Foundation (Georgia)
- Fulton County Reentry Program
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best felony friendly jobs in Atlanta?
- Atlanta excels in logistics (UPS headquarters, Amazon warehouses, FedEx), food service (Waffle House, Chick-fil-A), retail (Home Depot headquarters, Walmart, Kroger), and construction. The booming film industry has also created warehouse, set construction, and production support jobs that often hire people with records.
- Does Atlanta have ban-the-box laws?
- Georgia does not have a statewide ban-the-box law for private employers. The city of Atlanta has removed criminal history questions from city government applications. Many large Atlanta-based employers like UPS and Home Depot voluntarily follow fair chance practices with individualized assessment.
- What staffing agencies in Atlanta hire felons?
- Staffing agencies in Atlanta that work with people with records include Manpower, Express Employment Professionals, Adecco, Kelly Services, and Labor Finders. These agencies place workers in warehouse, manufacturing, food production, and general labor roles across the metro area.
- Is Atlanta a good city for people with records?
- Atlanta is considered one of the better cities in the Southeast for people with records. The metro has a large and diverse economy, strong logistics and food service sectors that tend to be more felon-friendly, and active reentry programs through Goodwill of North Georgia and the Fulton County Reentry Program.
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