For the nearly 20 million Americans with a felony conviction on their record, finding stable employment can be one of the steepest barriers to reentering society and building a better life. A criminal history can cast a long shadow, leading many employers to automatically disqualify candidates before even considering their qualifications.
But what about Domino‘s, one of the largest pizza chains in the world with over 6,000 locations in the U.S. alone? Does Domino‘s offer a second chance to job seekers with a troubled past, or do they shut out felons looking for an opportunity?
The short answer is that Domino‘s does not have a blanket policy against hiring felons. However, whether or not a particular Domino‘s location will hire a felon depends on several factors, including the nature of the conviction, the owner‘s stance, and the results of a background check. Let‘s dive deeper into Domino‘s approach to hiring candidates with criminal histories.
Domino‘s Background Check Process
First, it‘s important to understand that the vast majority of Domino‘s restaurants are independently owned and operated by franchisees. While Domino‘s corporate may provide hiring guidelines, the ultimate decision of whether to hire a felon rests with each individual store owner.
That said, most Domino‘s locations will conduct a background check on prospective employees. Typically, a background check will be run after a conditional offer of employment is made. According to Domino‘s, the background check takes an average of 2-3 days to complete.
The specific scope of these background checks can vary, but in general they will search for criminal records at the county, state, and federal level. Some key databases and registries that may be checked include:
- County criminal court records
- State criminal repositories
- National Criminal Database
- National Sex Offender Registry
- Domestic/international terrorist watch lists
- Motor vehicle records (for delivery driver candidates)
Certain felony convictions are more likely to be disqualifying than others. Crimes involving violence, sexual abuse, theft/fraud, or drug distribution raise the biggest red flags for employers. More recent convictions and repeat offenses will also be harder to overcome compared to a single non-violent felony from further in the past.
It‘s important to note that some states and cities have implemented "ban the box" laws that prohibit employers from asking about criminal history on initial job applications. However, these laws still allow background checks to be conducted later in the hiring process. Over 30 states and 150 cities have some form of ban the box policy in place, which Domino‘s must abide by in applicable areas.
EEOC Guidance on Criminal Background Checks
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued guidance on the use of criminal background checks in employment decisions. While these guidelines do not explicitly prohibit hiring bans against felons, the EEOC advises that blanket exclusions may violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act if they disproportionately impact certain protected groups.
African Americans and Hispanics are incarcerated at much higher rates than whites in the U.S., meaning a sweeping policy against hiring felons could be deemed discriminatory. Instead, the EEOC recommends that employers make individualized assessments and consider:
- The nature and gravity of the criminal offense
- The time that has passed since the offense
- The nature of the job sought
The EEOC also suggests allowing candidates an opportunity to explain their criminal record and provide mitigating evidence of rehabilitation before making a final decision.
From a practical standpoint, Domino‘s franchisees are unlikely to run afoul of EEOC guidelines as long as they don‘t institute absolute bans on felons and evaluate each candidate on a case-by-case basis. But the EEOC guidance underscores that the legality and fairness of using criminal history in hiring is a complex issue.
Recidivism and the Impact of Employment
One of the primary reasons why employers are hesitant to hire felons is a fear that they are more likely to engage in workplace misconduct or criminal behavior on the job. And it‘s true that some individuals with a criminal past may pose a higher risk, particularly those with serious or recent convictions.
However, research has consistently found that steady, legitimate employment is one of the key factors in reducing recidivism (the likelihood that an ex-offender will commit a new crime). A study by the Safer Foundation found that ex-offenders who found employment were nearly 60% less likely to return to prison compared to those who remained unemployed.
Other studies have yielded similar results:
- A 2011 study in Florida found that felons with one year of employment had a recidivism rate of 17% compared to 39% for those who were unemployed
- A 2015 study in Indiana found that employed ex-offenders had a re-arrest rate 30-50% lower than unemployed ex-offenders depending on risk category
- A 2020 review by the Brookings Institution concluded that "higher wages and employment in sectors that provide greater consistency, like construction, manufacturing, and transportation, are associated with lower recidivism"
The reasons why employment reduces repeat offenses are multifaceted. A job provides not only income, but structure, purpose, and a positive social network that can help ex-offenders successfully transition back into their communities. The responsibility and self-esteem boost that comes with being a productive member of the workforce also incentivizes staying on the straight and narrow path.
Of course, employment alone is not a magic bullet. Many ex-offenders face a host of other challenges and barriers, from housing instability to substance abuse and mental health issues. A holistic approach to reentry that addresses the whole person is important. But a job remains one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle.
The Economic Toll of Shut-Out Job Seekers
The difficulties that felons face in the labor market don‘t just impact those individuals and their families. There are also broader economic and societal costs to leaving a huge swath of the population on the sidelines.
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals is over 27%—nearly five times higher than the general population. Among those who do find work, their median annual income is just $10,090, less than half that of non-incarcerated workers.
This joblessness and underemployment translates to billions in lost economic output. One study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research estimated that in 2014, employment barriers related to felony convictions cost the U.S. economy up to $87 billion in lost GDP. This figure factored in both the lost labor hours of unemployed felons and the lower productivity of those who could only find part-time or low-wage work.
High unemployment among ex-offenders also strains government budgets. A 2019 report by the Florida Department of Corrections found that employed felons contributed over $7 million more in tax revenue than unemployed felons, while requiring nearly $20 million less in government assistance. Employed felons were also far less likely to require costly reincarceration.
While hiring decisions must account for potential risks, automatically discarding candidates with records also carries an economic cost. Employers miss out on qualified, motivated workers. Communities lose out on the local economic boost of more citizens earning and spending. And society as a whole pays the price of recidivism and all its collateral damage.
Firsthand Experiences of Felons Hired at Domino‘s
Despite the hurdles, there are numerous examples of felons who have been given a chance at Domino‘s and made the most of it. Here are a few of their stories:
"I have a felony drug possession from 2015. I was worried it would keep me from getting hired, but I decided to just be totally upfront on the application. I got a call for an interview and explained the situation to the manager. He said as long as I could pass the background check and was willing to work hard, he was willing to give me a shot. I‘ve been an assistant manager for 2 years now and even won employee of the month a few times. Having a stable job has helped me stay clean and build a better life for my son."
- Kevin, Texas
"My conviction was for theft about 8 years ago. Not proud of it but I did my time and have stayed out of trouble since then. I applied to Domino‘s online for a delivery job and was upfront that I‘m a felon. I didn‘t hear back at first, but then a few months later they called me in for an interview. I think being honest and the time that had passed since my offense worked in my favor. I‘ve been delivering for them for over a year and it‘s been great. My managers know my history but they treat me like any other employee."
- Chris, Ohio
"I caught an aggravated assault charge when I was 19 that put me away for 3 years. After I got released, finding a decent job felt impossible with my record. But I kept putting in applications anywhere that was hiring. When I applied at Domino‘s, they did a background check and saw my conviction. The manager called me in and really grilled me on the details of what happened and how I‘d changed. I convinced him I was a different person now and would bust my butt for them if given a chance. 5 years later, I‘m still there and up to shift lead. It‘s been life-changing to have an employer willing to look past my mistakes and see my potential."
- Vanessa, Florida
These success stories show that a criminal record doesn‘t have to be a life sentence of unemployment and underachievement. When employers like Domino‘s are willing to make individualized assessments and extend opportunities, felons can defy the odds and become valued employees.
Resources for Felons Seeking Employment
For felons hitting the job market, it‘s important to know that while the road may be difficult, there are resources and organizations dedicated to helping smooth the path.
One of the most comprehensive is the National Reentry Resource Center, a project of the U.S. Department of Justice. Their website offers guides on job searching with a criminal record, links to state-specific reentry resources, and an "Employer Look-Up" tool to find companies open to hiring felons in your area.
There are also non-profit organizations around the country focused on job readiness training and placement specifically for felons and ex-offenders. A few notable examples:
- The Fortune Society (New York): Offers employability skills training, job placement, and retention services for individuals with justice involvement
- Rehabilitation Enables Dreams (California): Provides job skills training, resume assistance, interview prep and job placement for parolees
- Uplift Workforce Solutions (Colorado): Partners with employers to place ex-offenders in jobs and provide ongoing case management and mentoring
- Restoration Project Ministries (Tennessee): Offers job readiness courses, forklift certification, and transitional work opportunities for ex-offenders
Some restaurants have also developed their own programs aimed at creating employment pathways for the formerly incarcerated. MOD Pizza has a "Second Chance" hiring initiative that has brought on over 300 employees with criminal records. Butterball Farms, a national supplier of specialty butters, actively recruits and trains returning citizens through its "Chance for Life" program.
Felons may also benefit from searching job boards and databases that specialize in "second chance" hiring, such as 70MillionJobs, Honest Jobs, and Jobs For Felons Hub. LinkedIn even offers a "Fair Chance" job filter to identify employers open to candidates with records.
For those with convictions, taking advantage of job readiness programs, reentry services, and inclusive employers can provide a foot in the door and set the stage for long-term career success.
The Future of Felon Hiring: Reasons for Hope
While the current economic and employment landscape for felons remains challenging, there are signs that the tide may slowly be turning.
In recent years, a growing number of major employers have instituted "fair chance" hiring policies aimed at broadening employment opportunities for those with criminal histories. Companies like Starbucks, Walmart, Home Depot, and Coca-Cola have all publicly committed to removing conviction history questions from initial job applications and making case-by-case hiring assessments in line with EEOC guidance.
The "Second Chance Business Coalition" launched in 2021 with 29 large corporate employers, including AT&T, Best Buy, and Gap, pledging to expand their hiring of candidates with criminal records. The organization provides businesses with resources and best practices for fair chance hiring.
There has also been an uptick in state and local legislation aimed at promoting employment of ex-offenders:
- As of 2021, 37 states have adopted some form of "ban the box" policies applying to public sector jobs
- 15 states now have laws extending ban the box rules to private employers as well
- A number of states offer work opportunity tax credits and fidelity bond insurance to incentivize hiring of felons
- Several states have expanded expungement and sealing eligibility to help more ex-offenders clear their records
While attitudes at many companies are still slow to change, each new business willing to practice inclusive hiring helps chip away at the stigma and employment barriers felons face. Grassroots efforts by ex-offenders and advocates to share success stories and urge reforms are also gathering momentum.
The reality is that nearly 1 in 3 American adults now has a criminal record. As this population swells, the economic and social costs of their unemployment grow harder to ignore. Businesses that fail to tap into this huge pool of human capital will increasingly fall behind those that do.
Domino‘s may not be a felon-friendly employer across the board, but its willingness to make individualized assessments and offer second chances in at least some cases represents a crack in the door. And for a motivated ex-offender who just needs someone to open that door, a job making pizzas can be the first step to a brighter future—and ultimately a more productive and equitable society for all.
