Felony Friendly Jobs in Nashville, TN
Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the South, with a booming economy driven by healthcare, hospitality, and logistics. HCA Healthcare is headquartered here, and Amazon has built multiple facilities in the area. Dollar General and Cracker Barrel are also headquartered in the Nashville metro. While Tennessee lacks ban-the-box protections, the state offers a certificate of employability program that can help overcome barriers. The city's rapid growth means employers are actively looking for workers.
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Top Employers in Nashville That Hire People With Records
These companies have locations in or near Nashville, TN 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.
FedEx Ground contractors frequently hire people with records. FedEx Express has stricter requirements.
Kroger hires people with records for many store and warehouse positions. Pharmacy roles are more restricted.
Dollar General conducts background checks but is known to hire people with non-violent felony records.
Cracker Barrel is corporate-owned with individualized assessment. Kitchen roles may be more accessible.
HCA Healthcare has strict background requirements for patient-facing roles. Non-clinical roles may be more accessible.
Best Industries in Nashville for People With Records
- ✓Healthcare
- ✓Hospitality & tourism
- ✓Logistics
- ✓Music & entertainment
- ✓Construction
Staffing Agencies in Nashville That Work With People With Records
Temp and staffing agencies are often the fastest way to get working. These agencies serve the Nashville metro area and are known to place people with criminal records.
- Express Employment Professionals
- Manpower
- Kelly Services
- Adecco
- Staffmark
Tennessee Employment Laws for People With Records
Ban the Box Status
Tennessee does not have a statewide ban-the-box law for private employers. Nashville does not have a local ban-the-box ordinance.
Fair Chance Hiring Law
Tennessee does not have statewide fair chance hiring legislation. However, Tennessee has a certificate of employability program that can help people with records. Federal EEOC guidelines apply to all Nashville employers.
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr (federal minimum — Tennessee has no state minimum wage law)
Tips for Job Searching With a Record in Nashville
- 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 Nashville
- Nashville Career Advancement Center
- Dismas House
- Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee
- Men of Valor
- Tennessee Reentry Collaborative
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best felony friendly jobs in Nashville?
- Nashville's strongest industries for people with records are logistics and warehousing (Amazon, UPS, FedEx), food service and hospitality (Nashville's tourism economy), construction (the city is growing rapidly), and retail (Walmart, Kroger, Dollar General). Cracker Barrel, headquartered nearby, is known to consider applicants with records for kitchen roles.
- Does Nashville have ban-the-box laws?
- No. Tennessee does not have a statewide ban-the-box law for private employers, and Nashville does not have a local ordinance. However, Tennessee offers a certificate of employability that can help people with records demonstrate their rehabilitation to potential employers.
- What is Tennessee's certificate of employability?
- Tennessee's certificate of employability is issued by circuit courts to people with criminal records who can demonstrate rehabilitation. The certificate helps overcome employment barriers and provides some protection to employers who hire certificate holders. It does not expunge your record but signals to employers that a court has reviewed your case and found you suitable for employment.
- What staffing agencies in Nashville hire felons?
- Staffing agencies in Nashville that work with people with records include Express Employment Professionals, Manpower, Kelly Services, Adecco, and Staffmark. Nashville's growth in logistics and construction means agencies frequently need workers for temp-to-hire positions.
Related Resources
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