Quick Answer

Yes, Graphic Packaging International (GPI) hires people with felony convictions on an accessible, high-volume case-by-case basis.

As a global leader in paperboard and consumer packaging (with facilities in Fort Smith, AR), GPI has constant demand for reliable shift workers in its manufacturing plants. Employment is highly accessible for Production Line, Machine Operator, and Sanitation roles, prioritizing reliability, industrial safety, and physical stamina over past non-relevant convictions.

Entry-level Production Worker and Packer roles start around $16.00–$22.00 per hour plus shift differentials, with skilled Maintenance Technicians earning competitive industrial wages of $28.00–$38.00 per hour.

🟢 FELON-FRIENDLY SCORE CARD: GRAPHIC PACKAGING

✅ WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU APPLY (Eligibility Checklist)

This checklist is a mandatory gut-check for all applicants:

📃 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (Most Roles)

• Age: 18 years or older.

• Physical Ability: Ability to work full-time in a loud, industrial environment.

• Screening: Willingness to pass a background check and drug screen.

  
  

⚠️ REALISM CHECK: INDUSTRIAL RELIABILITY ⚠️

In packaging manufacturing, the primary requirement is reliability to maintain continuous production flow. The company needs employees who show up for every shift, especially night shifts, which are consistently harder to fill. If your past shows a pattern of poor attendance or instability, that will be a greater barrier than an old, isolated felony. Shift work is mandatory and often includes mandatory overtime.

1. About Graphic Packaging International

Graphic Packaging International (GPI) is a leading global provider of paperboard packaging solutions for food, beverage, and consumer products.

With facilities in Arkansas (such as Fort Smith), the company is a major manufacturer, relying on continuous operations to produce billions of units of packaging annually.

The work environment is typical of heavy manufacturing: 24/7 operations, loud industrial floors, complex automated machinery, and a high focus on Lean Manufacturing principles and workplace safety (OSHA).

2. Hiring Policy for People with Felonies

GPI maintains a pragmatic, volume-driven hiring policy. They adhere to EEOC guidelines, performing an individualized assessment that generally uses a 7-year lookback period. The high demand for shift workers, especially for production and maintenance, ensures accessibility for reliable applicants.

What Graphic Packaging Considers

• Reliability and Shift Work: This is critical. Manufacturing lines cannot stop. Consistent attendance and a willingness to work unpopular shifts are major assets.

  
  

• Safety & Machinery: Felonies related to violence or safety violations are scrutinized due to the hazards of working around high-speed industrial machinery.

  
  

• Integrity/Theft: Felonies involving inventory theft or fraud are reviewed, but generally manageable for hands-on production roles where integrity issues are mitigated by time and a non-fiduciary role.

  
  

• Skill Demand: Skilled trades, like Maintenance Technician (Millwright, Electrician), are highly valued and often needed immediately, which can help a candidate with an older record.

3. Available Jobs

GPI offers numerous stable, high-wage industrial careers in the Fort Smith area.

Manufacturing and Production Roles (Hourly Pay)

Career Path Example: Manufacturing

• Production Worker

• Machine Operator

• Line Lead

• Quality Control Technician

• Shift Supervisor (Salaried $60K+)

4. Background Check Process

GPI uses a standard industrial screening process focused on safety and job-relevant history.

1. Application: Submitted online or directly to the plant HR office (Fort Smith).

2. Interview: Focuses on dependability, shift flexibility, and safety history.

3. Conditional Offer: Contingent upon background and drug screen clearance.

4. Screening: Typically reviews the past 7 years for felonies and job-relevant misdemeanors. Integrity and safety are the primary concerns.

5. Drug Screening: Mandatory pre-employment screen is standard for all industrial roles.

6. Final Decision: Driven by the Plant Operations Manager, prioritizing reliability and commitment to the assigned shift.

   
   

5. Application Tips

• Target the Shift: Emphasize your willingness to work the difficult 2nd (evening) or 3rd (night) shifts and mandatory overtime. These shifts are where the greatest need and most flexible hiring decisions occur.

• Highlight Safety & Stamina: Stress your ability to work safely around heavy machinery and your physical endurance for standing, lifting, and repetitive tasks during long shifts.

• Show Commitment to Quality: Frame past work as precision-focused (e.g., "followed detailed packing instructions to maintain 99.9% accuracy").

• Acquire Skills: If pursuing a high-pay Maintenance Technician role, complete courses in industrial electricity or maintenance mechanics at a local Arkansas technical school.

• Be Honest about Time: If your felony is older than 7 years, treat it as a closed chapter and focus the discussion entirely on your current work ethic.

  
  

6. Benefits and Compensation

Graphic Packaging International offers competitive industrial benefits: Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Retirement Plan with Match, Paid Time Off (PTO), and opportunities for Tuition Reimbursement for job-related degrees and certifications.

7. Comprehensive FAQs

Q: Does Graphic Packaging drug test new employees?

A: Yes, a mandatory pre-employment drug screen is standard due to safety regulations around heavy machinery and continuous production.

Q: Will a felony theft charge disqualify me from a Production Worker job?

A: Not automatically, especially if the felony is older than 7 years. The company will assess the crime's relevance. Since the Production Worker role is supervised and handles minimal inventory control, the concern is lower than for a Warehouse Manager.

Q: What are the shifts like in the packaging plant?

A: Shifts are typically 8 or 12 hours, running 24/7. Many employees work continuous schedules like 3-on/3-off, or fixed second (evenings) or third (nights) shifts, often with mandatory overtime during high-demand periods.

Q: What is the highest paying entry-level job?

A: Sanitation Worker (Night Shift) is often the highest-paying entry-level role due to the required industrial cleaning and the night shift differential.

Q: Can I advance to a Supervisor position without a college degree?

A: Yes. GPI strongly supports internal promotion. You can advance from Production Worker to Line Lead to Shift Supervisor based on proven reliability, leadership, and industrial experience.

Q: How far back does the background check go?

A: The standard check focuses on the past 7 years for felonies and relevant misdemeanors.

Q: Do I need prior experience in manufacturing?

A: No. Entry-level Production Worker roles provide full on-the-job training. They look for physical capability and a strong work ethic.

Q: Is the Maintenance Technician role accessible with a felony?

A: Yes, if the felony is old and non-relevant. The extremely high demand for skilled Maintenance Techs means that technical expertise and certification can overcome a past record.

Q: What kind of PPE is required?

A: Production workers typically require safety glasses, ear plugs, safety shoes, and sometimes gloves or specialized clothing due to noise and moving machinery.

Q: Does GPI offer tuition assistance?

A: Yes, the company offers tuition reimbursement for employees seeking degrees or technical certifications related to the manufacturing, maintenance, or engineering fields.

8. Similar Companies That Hire in Arkansas

9. Final Thoughts and Strategy Summary

Graphic Packaging International offers stable, well-compensated work in a growing sector of Arkansas manufacturing. Your reliability is the most important factor in securing and advancing your career here.

Strategy for Success:

1. Target High Demand Shifts: Apply for the 2nd or 3rd shift Production Worker roles to increase your chances of immediate hire.

   
   

2. Focus on Consistency: Maintain perfect attendance and demonstrate a commitment to following all industrial safety procedures.

   
   

3. Advance Quickly: Use the internal training programs to move from Production Worker into a skilled Machine Operator or Maintenance Technician role.