I've been pissed for a while because I am always disqualified by a potential employer because of my criminal background. I don't have a history (such as repeat offenses which I believe deserve scrutiny) of crime but instead a series of events that took place at the same time. Awesome defense. But I have been turned down from manufacturing jobs (we need warm body) and even fast food (…).
So I apply at a cleaning company to be a genuine janitor.
$15/hour to start part time
Medical, dental, vision
401k with 5% match (100% for first 3% deferred, 50% for next 2%) but this is full time
PTO is being worked out but will be 20 days annual (after 5 years) and just 10 days annual until 5 years
Primarily internal promotion
None of my experience before or during prison (I was a janitor in prison lol so maybe that opened the door lol) mattered. So I had just months of previous job employment as a 40+ year old man.
I am posting this here to hopefully let people know that there is opportunity out there. A felon with almost no job experience, in his 40s, got a great job. The pay is only $15/hour at the basic level. Also, my area, the cost of living is super low and the quality of life is great if you like the outdoors. So $15/hour, full time, figuring in taxes and such; a single person could live here in a 650 square foot apartment, full health, with retirement. If you don't have a problem cleaning toilets, which I sure as shit don't!
Tl;Dr – we are here for different reasons. I just want to provide this brief story as hope or maybe an idea for folks. I got a great entry level, no skill job, as a felon. I am a janitor.