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The legal right of privacy has been defined as the right to be let alone, the right of a person "to withhold himself and his property from public scrutiny if he so chooses.
Why, then do the majority of jobs require references?
As a rational human being, people I would use as references are people that I respect and do not want to see bothered by multiple people throughout their day asking trivial questions about me.
Since when do businesses have more power to pry into our lives than our own government?
There is no requirement for you to apply for employment. You can operate your own business and avoid the questions by employers. They cannot force you to reveal this information unless you choose to, therefore there is no violation of privacy except by your choice.
As a business owner, you may find that some customers will not hire you without references either. It is again your choice to provide them or do without that business.
Life is full of choices, but rights are only violated when forceably denied. Surrender of ones rights is a choice, not a violation.
No company I have ever applied to has had access to my phone records. No company I have ever applied to has had access to my personal emails. No company I have ever applied to has had the capability of eavesdropping on my conversations through my cell phone - even if the cell phone is off - because the only way to bypass this is by removing the battery.
Companies are allowed to hear the opinions of other people before they invest in a new employee. It appears you will have to start your own company (where you hire people without getting the opinions of references) if you plan on working.
By the way, this is just my opinion, but you do not sound like a rational human being.
I too feel uncomfortable imposing on others for a reference and also think they are rather worthless.
1. Most companies will only give out titles and dates of employment
2. Anyone can find or pay someone to say nice things about them.
3. In the few cases of bad references I've seen it has always been more reflective of the low moral character of the person giving the reference than the person it was about. A decent person would just decline to be a reference rather than go out of their way to sabotage someone. I had a sociopathic PI in grad school do this and was fortunate to have gotten a heads up from a colleague.
There is no requirement for you to apply for employment. You can operate your own business and avoid the questions by employers. They cannot force you to reveal this information unless you choose to, therefore there is no violation of privacy except by your choice.
As a business owner, you may find that some customers will not hire you without references either. It is again your choice to provide them or do without that business.
Life is full of choices, but rights are only violated when forceably denied. Surrender of ones rights is a choice, not a violation.
So, in essence you are saying, employers get to make their own rules regardless if they violate the law. Since I have the ability to go somewhere else, I should just ignore what's going on behind their "private" doors?
This is a democratic nation and while applying for jobs today, over 90% required me to list references to even send in an application. Employers have no right to pry into my life and ask people about me; yet over 90% require me to submit to this?
I only give references when I've actually talked to someone regarding the position. I don't give them out on an initial application. That way, my references aren't bombarded with phone calls without prior notice.
No company I have ever applied to has had access to my phone records. No company I have ever applied to has had access to my personal emails. No company I have ever applied to has had the capability of eavesdropping on my conversations through my cell phone - even if the cell phone is off - because the only way to bypass this is by removing the battery.
Companies are allowed to hear the opinions of other people before they invest in a new employee. It appears you will have to start your own company (where you hire people without getting the opinions of references) if you plan on working.
By the way, this is just my opinion, but you do not sound like a rational human being.
You are comparing apples to oranges. Invasion of privacy does not have to be extreme. Companies are allowed to hear opinions all they want, but they don't have the right to require prospective employees to give them their leads.
You are comparing apples to oranges. Invasion of privacy does not have to be extreme. Companies are allowed to hear opinions all they want, but they don't have the right to require prospective employees to give them their leads.
Using your quote, I'm not the one who compared apples with oranges:
Quote:
Since when do businesses have more power to pry into our lives than our own government?
I simply pointed out instances where the government has done a lot more digging than any company I have ever applied to.
Asking for references is not a violation of rights, nor is it an invasion of privacy. What's the problem, are you in the witness protection program or something?
ETA: Do cite the law companies are violating in asking for references.
So, in essence you are saying, employers get to make their own rules regardless if they violate the law. Since I have the ability to go somewhere else, I should just ignore what's going on behind their "private" doors?
This is a democratic nation and while applying for jobs today, over 90% required me to list references to even send in an application. Employers have no right to pry into my life and ask people about me; yet over 90% require me to submit to this?
So, in essence you are saying, employers get to make their own rules regardless if they violate the law. Since I have the ability to go somewhere else, I should just ignore what's going on behind their "private" doors?
This is a democratic nation and while applying for jobs today, over 90% required me to list references to even send in an application. Employers have no right to pry into my life and ask people about me; yet over 90% require me to submit to this?
Name any law that has been violated. Everyone has the right to ask for references. It is up to you to agree or not.
This is not a democratic nation. The definition of this form of government is a Republic. A democracy would require every citizen to vote on every action of the government. We instead rely upon representatives such as congressmen, senators, mayors, councilmembers and other elected advocates to make legislative and administrative rules on our behalf.
I am surprised that only 90% have demanded references from you. It is a standard practise to eliminate marginal or suspect candidate by placing hiring barriers before them. Only a highly desirable candidate is offered a position without being interviewed or screened by multiple reviewers. Most candidate must provide references, unless their credentials or skills are truly remarkable.
I can understand some people becoming uncomfortable about their past and disliking the need to verify their statements, but it is the right of any employer to verify what an applicant states in their application and to verify the past employment history. In some cases, the references are character based rather than performance based, but you did not indicate which type bothered you so I am presuming that both types hit your hot button.
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