Most airport workers must pass a background check and get a security badge. You can qualify for a badge and work in most jobs at the airport as long as:
- you have no felony convictions - or - any felony convictions are more than 10 years old
If you only have misdemeanors, or old felonies, then airport employers are able to hire you! They have to give you a fair chance to show that you are the best candidate for the job. They can still turn you down because of your record – but only if your record is related to your ability to do the job that you’re applying for.
Airport job listings can be found online at the airport’s web page: http://www.phl.org/Business/Employment/Pages/employment_default.aspx
You can also find job listings on the jobs section of Craigslist: http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/jjj/
Recent job openings include: Food Service – Custodial – Retail
What if you’re unfairly denied the chance to work at an airport job?
If you are African-American or Hispanic, and you have been improperly denied a job due to a criminal conviction that wasn’t related to the job for which you were applying, you can file a complaint at either one of these agencies:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Phila. Commission on Human Relations
801 Market Street, Suite 1300 Curtis Center Building
Philadelphia, PA 19107 601 Walnut St., 3rd floor, Ste 300 South
Intake: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Philadelphia, PA 19106
(214) 440-2601 Intake: 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
(215) 686-4670
If you want to file a complaint, you must call one of these agencies within 300 days of the date you are denied the job.
If you are a Philadelphia resident and you would like legal assistance, Community Legal Services may be able to help. Walk-in intake is 9-12, Monday through Friday, at 1424 Chestnut St. Call 215-981-3700, or go to www.clsphila.org for more information. CLS May 2013