Good, now pay attention and read about how employers are invading your privacy. According to a recent CNN Money article companies are increasing job candidate screening - and, in some cases, even current employees.
Besides verifying the details on your resume, employers most commonly screen for criminal behavior, drug abuse, regulatory violations and -- of late -- inclusion on terrorist watch lists.
But they also may take an interest in tax liens, bankruptcy filings, a habit of bouncing checks, ongoing divorce and custody proceedings, driving violations and medical conditions.
That's because employers are concerned that someone with serious monetary problems, health issues or family concerns might not be fully focused, said Tal Moise, CEO of background screening firm Verified Person, and Cynthia Shapiro, a former human resource executive and author of "Corporate Confidential."
What the funk? Why is this okay? Is it because they don't tell us about it and we never find out? Or some sort of what-we-don't-know-won't-hurt-us mentality?
Since when is our financial, medical or familial issues any of your business, Mr. Corporate Crappy Job Provider? Lest we forget, ASKING questions about these subjects in job interviews is illegal. So what, you figured you'd just bypass the question and go straight to my credit report? What kind of place is our country turning into?
avid reader(07/20/2006)
OMG!!! Even current employers? Where are the laws against this? This makes me sick to my stomach! Does anyone know what the laws are regarding this subject, if any?
avid reader(07/20/2006)
oops I mean "even current employees"
Midwesterner(07/20/2006)
I am completely shocked at this. I thought this was illegal. What's more, I have heard about being "Googled" but putting strikes against you for going through custody battles? This is outrageous.
TMMurphy(07/21/2006)
This happened to a friend of mine. They found out he had kids in a another state and was spending a lot of money on the battle to bring them back to his state. His boss (a bitter divorced woman) used it against him although she never admitted it.
C - -(08/13/2006)
Kids grow up and so does the threat of a custody hearings. The lack of medical privacy is of great concern. Medical information in the hands of an abusive manager can cause great harm. Whatever happened to enforcement of medical privacy?
been there(07/29/2007)
You are going to love this...I just recently went on an interview with a large fortune 500 company in the midwest, and was asked where my last name was from(in other word...what nationality are you?) To make matters worst, this executive interviewing me also asked me where my husband was from. When I told him, he said to me..."Oh my, you both must have a passionate relation ship being that you are from so-and-so, and he is from so-and-so background". Can you believe it! Isn't this suppose to be illegal! He knew it also because he paraphrased what he said by saying..."I know I am not suppose to ask you this but, I am so interested in peoples names and where they come from". Needless to say, I have yet to hear word from that interview...it has been over two weeks now.
dumber than a box of catsh*t(07/30/2007)
I have been made more and more aware of this kind of thing. There is a company that now tracks how often someone returns a purchase to a store--Victoria's Secret has this system. I pay more and more in "cash" so I can't be tracked--not that I return anything but in general, can't be "tracked". I also refuse to fill-out or give info like my phone# or zip code or when I do rarely return an item, I refuse to fill-out their form. And people aren't very smart--they think that just because they are asked for info that they have to give it. What--are the police going to show-up at a store and make you give the cashier your phone number? People are stupid.
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