William Lipovsky
Short Answer — “Not Eligible for Rehire” status can happen for many different reasons and, in some cases, may last indefinitely. Some companies automatically deem former employees “Not Eligible for Rehire,” and others may classify employees with specific issues as ineligible, such as those with attendance or behavior issues.
How Long Does a No Rehire Status Last?
Rehire eligibility and the length of “Do Not Rehire” status vary by employer. There are no laws governing employee rehires, but some companies do have rehire policies.
Depending upon the company policy, you may never be eligible for rehire once you leave, or there may be a specific time frame, such as two years, in which you can’t be rehired after leaving.
We reached out to the HR departments of several large companies, including Amazon, Apple, Disney, Microsoft, Target, UPS, and Walmart, for more information. (Our previous research also details the rehire policy at Walmart.)
An employee can be given a status of ineligible for rehire for their specific position or any position companywide, representatives told us. Some companies group all former employees as ineligible for rehire.
If a company considers rehire eligibility on a case-by-case basis, some reasons it may consider branding a former employee “Not Eligible for Rehire” include:
- Attendance issues
- Getting fired
- Job abandonment
- Keeping company equipment upon leaving employment
- Misconduct
- Not giving a two-week notice
- Poor job performance or failing a performance improvement plan
- Violation of company policies
- Workplace violence
Note: Depending upon the company, laid-off employees may or may not be eligible for rehire. If you are a laid-off union employee, your contract may require that you be rehired.
How to Check Rehire Status
At your termination meeting, you may be told whether you are eligible for rehire, or you can ask. Once you have left the company, you can call the HR department and ask for your rehire status.
If you do not qualify for rehire, you can try to find out why; the company may not tell you, but it never hurts to ask.
Can No Rehire Status Be Changed?
If your status indicates you are not eligible for rehire, there may be no way to change your status. At companies that rely on online applications, the system will often identify you as ineligible once you enter your information.
However, if you maintained a good working relationship with a person or two within the organization, they may be willing to recommend you for a current job opening or allow you to list them as a referral and a reference on your job application.
Some companies also allow you to appeal your “rehire ineligible” status by explaining what happened in the past and how you have changed. The employer may accept your explanation and change your status to eligible, which will allow you to apply for current openings.
I agree. Lifetime should be like 5 years. That’s enough time to allow growth or 2nd chance. Ppl shouldn’t be put on a permanent non-rehirable list unless it’s like unspeakable violation. Also, there sometimes exist power abuse from those above so there can be institutional abuse from those with power. It’s down to the team and chemistry, not a particular person.
I was terminated after responding to a hostile co- worker and was not separated talked to coached or given any type of warning by the lead who was in charge that day. This coworker antagnized me a second time the same day and I responded and got terminated for initially standing up for myself. My lead lied and said they sat and talked to both me n my co worker which was a lie. I ended up getting terminated almost a month after this incident occurred. She threatened me and I got fired which I do not understand. Mind you my lead not the store manager fired me or should I say did my exit interview which I had complained to upper management on how he would single me out and had it out to get me fired with no one wanting to take me serious and then this happens. No one from that incident even work at that same Walmart and I’m still deemed not reliable this is so unfair and unethical.
I just want to go and work at Walmart again. I’ve learned my lesson.
I was fired from Walmart 28 years ago, the other day I was hired but when I filled out the background with my social security I was deemed unhireable, I was fired for stopping a fight between 2 employees, on my day off. After Walmart I joined the police force worked there for 7 years til I got married & pregnant, but why after 28 years am I still on the unrehire? I am hard working personable flexible & I could really use the job. I would never lay my hands on anyone but being fired for honestly not doing what I was blamed for, I think after 28 years I should be able to take the job at Walmart that I was offered. Thank you for your time.