Does Instacart Hire Felons?

One of the top home delivery services, Instacart has around 9.6 million active members and 9,606 workers in Canada and the United States. Seniors, young adults, full-time parents and workers, educators, judges, and students have taken advantage of Instacart service at some point.

Instacart owns and operates a website and software program, where consumers can enroll and members can place their orders. In many cases, Instacart can deliver groceries to members’ front door in just two hours.

Instacart subscribers can choose from 500 million products and shop at over 25,000 grocery store chain locations in the United States.

Instacart Partners

Instacart partners with several supermarket and pharmaceutical chains across the United States and Canada. Sam’s Club, Sprout, Kroger, Aldi, CVS, Publix, Albertsons, Costco, and small mom-and-pop grocery stores.

Instacart’s biggest competitors are Amazon Fresh, Shipt, and Walmart Delivery, all of which offer speedy home deliveries in many major cities.

Is Instacart Affordable?

Many American and Canadian consumers seem to think so. The service charges users $3.99 and a 5 percent service fee for each home delivery. Additional fees are added to alcohol orders and orders under $35.

Instacart members can save money by enrolling in Instacart Express. If you utilize Instacart more than four times each month, Instacart Express may minimize your overall expenses.

For $9.99 monthly ($99 yearly), Instacart Express members receive free home deliveries for all minimum required orders over $35. Orders under the minimum required amount are penalized by at least 1.9 percent compared to the original 5 percent service fee.

Does Instacart Accept SNAP?

No, Instacart is not licensed to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP or food stamps in the United States. There were 38 million SNAP recipients in 2019, according to government statistics.

Instacart currently operates in Washington D.C. and 50 US states and 9 Canadian provinces, excluding Quebec.

Update: Does Instacart Take EBT Payment?

Why Become An Instacart Delivery Worker?

Just ask current Instacart delivery drivers how they feel about their jobs. Most will agree, Instacart is a wonderful employer that offers amazing benefits. Working for Instacart comes with the following benefits:

• Unlimited vacation time
• Healthcare package
• Dental and vision package
• Paid sick leave
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Free beverages

The downside of being an Instacart employee is no 401K benefits. Pay also does not meet the $15 threshold in many states.

Between August 2020 and August 2021, Instacart was recognized as the “Best Place To Work.” In 2020, Instacart was awarded the Gold Winner “Best in Business” by Inc. The company has also been voted the Best Company for diversity, leadership, and work/life balance.

Current Openings

Instacart has various employment opportunities available to qualified individuals. Current positions include the following:

• Billing Operations Associate
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Collections Associate
• Corporate FP&A and Strategic Finance Manager
• Director of Market Intelligence
• Manager, Indirect Tax
• Revenue Accountant
• Senior Accounting Manager
• Senior Projects Business Solutions Manager
• Strategic Financial Analyst
• Staff Security Engineer
• Software Engineering
• Technical Delivery

The company offers both part- and full-time employment positions. Part-time Instacart positions are ideal for college students, parents, and full-time workers in need of extra cash.

Instacart Employment Requirements

To qualify for a job with Instacart, you must be at least 18 years of age, a US citizen, own or have direct access to a licensed, insured vehicle, have a cellphone, physically capable of lifting at least 50 pounds with special assistance, or accommodation, and available to work during required hours.

Instacart shoppers must have a valid driver’s license in the state they are planning to work in.

Does Instacart Do Employee Background Checks?

Yes, Instacart does request background checks for qualifying job candidates. The company only runs background checks on job applicants who are believed to be a good match. Instacart background checks verify the applicant’s criminal history, identity, past work history, special qualifications, professional licenses, certifications, and education history.

Instacart has joined many other American companies in screening job applicants’ social media activities. This practice is becoming more mainstream. The data collected through employee social media screening is useful to employers in many ways.

First and foremost, the employer is looking to determine if the applicant appears to be truthful, professional, and responsible. You would be surprised by the volume of information your social media posts can provide employers.

All eligible job applicants are asked to sign a consent for the background check. If the applicant refuses to sign the background check consent, he/she will no longer be eligible for employment with Instacart.

Read Also: Does Instacart Drug Test New Hire?

Why Does Instacart Validate An Applicant’s Criminal History?

Unfortunately, not all job applicants are truthful about their criminal history. A 2017 HireRight report revealed 85 percent of job applicants falsify their applications and resumes. The percentage had increased by 66 percent over a five-year period.

Applicants falsify their criminal, education, and work history.

To rule out applicants who falsify their employment applications and resumes, Instacart runs background checks, which include a criminal history. Criminal records provide an array of information, including the following:

• Name, physical address, driver’s license number, and age
• Misdemeanor and felony criminal convictions
• Intermediate family members
• Marriage, separation, and divorce history
• State and federal bankruptcy history
• State and federal tax liens
• Address history
• Distinguishable body marks (birthmarks, tattoos, and scars)
• Arrest history
• Warrant history
• Criminal traffic convictions (driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license)
• Traffic fines (speeding and red light violations)

Criminal history does not include expunged criminal cases.

Does Instacart Hire Felons in [year]?

Yes, excluding applicants with a previous felony conviction. Like Doordash and UberEats, Instacart only hires applicants with felonies in the past 5 to 10 years, it is closer to the latter. The Fair Credit Report Act (FCRA) does not place limitations on how far American employers can go back in a background check.

If the employer wants to see an application criminal record over the past 25 years, it has the right to do so without legal repercussions.

Instacart will agree to hire some applicants before their background record is validated. If the criminal record does not match your job application, you may be terminated immediately.

In some cases, Instacart will give employees an opportunity to redeem themselves through rehabilitation. However, some employees who have found themselves in a similar situation claim Instacart does not offer second chances.

Does Instacart Hire Applicants With Felony Murder Convictions?

With little evidence available, it is impossible to validate this question. If you have a criminal conviction, it is recommended to speak with an Instacart human resources worker before completing and submitting a job application.

At least, this will spare you the embarrassment, in the event Instacart does not hire an applicant with a past felony murder conviction.

Most US companies that run background checks will not hire applicants with a felony murder conviction.

Conditional Employment

Instacart is believed to offer some applicants conditional employment. Applicants are offered conditional jobs based on certain contingencies per the discretion of employers. This is only a temporary job position that has the potential to become permanent if and when the employee fulfills some or all preconditions.

A condition could be something to do with a current criminal charge. For example, the condition could be a dismissed criminal charge, at which time the employer will offer the employee in question a full-time position.

Conditional employment can also be something as simple as a clear criminal record. This will not be an issue for applicants who do not have a criminal history.

Does Instacart Hire Applicants With Traffic Convictions For Shopping Positions?

Instacart shoppers not only physically retrieve and fulfill customer orders but also deliver them. To become an Instacart shopper, applicants must meet specific criteria. They must possess a valid driver’s license in the state they are applying for employment. They must also have consistent access to a vehicle that is registered, licensed, and insured.

Motorists face driver license suspension if they are consecutively fined for speeding, failed to pay fines and appear in court, convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol or illicit drugs, and failed to maintain good standing with child support payments.

Fortunately, motorists can get their driver license reinstated by doing the following:

• Completing and submitting a Driver’s license Reinstatement application to your local DMV
• Pay a driver’s license reinstatement fee (varies from state to state)
• Proof of identity
• Proof of current address
• Meet specific requirements

Instacart will not consider applicants without a valid driver’s license for employment.

Afterword

A felony conviction is not always the determining factor of whether or not you get hired on with Instacart. To improve your odds of becoming a legal Instacart shopper, you will need to meet specific criteria, not have a felony conviction in the past 5 to 10 years, more like the latter.

Instacart shoppers rely heavily on vehicles. The company will not even consider applicants with suspended driver’s licenses for a shopper position.