Smasharoo wrote:
The DUI was 9 years ago and the stolen property was 12 years ago.
You're fine. California law only allows employers to "look back" 7 years, even on criminal convictions. Could they find out and fire you for some other trumped up reason? Sure. Why would they, though? The main reason people don't hire felons is perceived liability, which they wouldn't have, what with being required legally not to research that far back.
Cali is an "at will" state. Any time, for any reason.
All states are "at will" states. This is a chunk of boilerplate employers add to applications for no particular reason. As a practical matter, it's utterly meaningless. California actually has some of the most employee beneficial law of all states. I'm not an expert on California employment law, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it were illegal to terminate an employee based on background check information discovered after hiring them if they hadn't lied about it.
/nod
It depends on what is in your personnel file, particularly your job application or any kind of questionnaire that you may have had to fill out. Usually, the application/questionnaire asks if you have ever been convicted of a crime. You HAVE to check yes, no matter when it happened, if the application doesn't specify a time frame. If you didn't admit to your criminal history about it in the application, there is a possibility that this could bite you in the end. But if there is nothing in writing and things just went off your resume, you should be OK.
Due to corporate compliance laws for federal as well as state, the background check may be required, depending on whether your company is a public company or not. Chances are, though, a summary background check is going to be done and your criminal history may not be picked up. However, I would just come clean with someone in the HR Department that you're comfortable with and who you know will go to bat for you. They should weigh your past discretions against your current performance as their employee. Unless your specific job requires no felony convictions at all, you should be fine.