Mckesson: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

McKesson was founded in 1833 by John McKesson and Charles M. Olcott in New York City, initially operating as Olcott & McKesson, a business importing and selling therapeutic drugs and herbal products. The company later became known as McKesson & Robbins in 1853 and grew into a major national drug wholesaler over the following century. In the 1930s, the company survived a significant financial crisis after an equity receivership involving fraud by an executive using the alias Donald Coster and his brothers, who stole company funds.

In 1967, Foremost Dairies, a company originally founded by James Cash Penney and headquartered in San Francisco since 1954, acquired McKesson & Robbins in a hostile takeover, forming Foremost-McKesson, Inc. The newly combined company initially lacked a clear corporate strategy under president Rudolph Drews, who was known for acquiring diverse businesses "from sporting goods to candy" before being forced out in 1974; Drews later orchestrated an unsuccessful takeover attempt of his former company in 1976 involving Miami financier Victor Posner. The Foremost dairy operations were sold in 1982, and the company was renamed McKesson Corporation, though it remained headquartered in San Francisco.

McKesson grew significantly through major acquisitions in subsequent decades, including HBO & Company (a leading healthcare information systems firm) in 1999, forming McKessonHBOC before reverting to the McKesson Corporation name in 2001, followed by other acquisitions such as Per Se Technologies and US Oncology, Inc. In 2014, McKesson acquired a controlling stake in Celesio, a German pharmaceutical distributor, for $8.3 billion, later acquiring the remaining shares and rebranding the subsidiary as McKesson Europe. In 2019, McKesson relocated its corporate headquarters from San Francisco to Irving, Texas, citing high costs in San Francisco and more favorable tax conditions in Texas.

Today, McKesson generates more than $359 billion in annual revenue, ranking among the top companies on the Fortune 500 list, and employs approximately 45,000 to 78,000 people depending on the reporting period. The company played a major role during the COVID-19 pandemic as a primary distributor of vaccines, delivering more than 370 million doses across the United States. McKesson's workforce spans pharmaceutical distribution and warehouse operations, retail pharmacy support through its Health Mart franchise network, oncology and specialty care services, and health information technology roles.

Company culture and employee programs: McKesson describes itself as dedicated to "making care possible," emphasizing its role in mobilizing critical healthcare resources during major public health crises throughout its nearly two-century history. The company has continued to expand its footprint across pharmaceutical distribution, medical supplies, and healthcare technology. Benefits, training, and advancement opportunities can vary by role and facility, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the pharmaceutical distribution and healthcare industry, including McKesson, are legally permitted and, for many roles, required to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, given regulatory requirements for handling controlled substances and sensitive healthcare information. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

McKesson is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for pharmaceutical distribution employers, particularly for warehouse and distribution roles involving access to controlled substances and pharmaceutical products.

The hiring process for warehouse, distribution, and corporate roles at McKesson typically includes an application, one or more interviews, and a background check prior to a final offer.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a pharmaceutical distribution role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though DEA regulatory requirements for handling controlled substances may involve additional background review for certain roles.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role, particularly for positions involving access to controlled substances, which are subject to DEA regulations. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what McKesson may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to McKesson or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.