Background form from work (credit, insurance, lawsuits, job)

[Flamingo13]

I'm not sure where to post this, but I'm having SERIOUS issues w/a form that my company is asking for: literally allowing access to ALL records: credit, criminal, addresses, lawsuits, etc. (it goes on and on) - I am NOT going to sign this. My job does not involve handling any cash, just setting product. The department store apparently wants this form - no way am I going to sign this.

[FreeSpirited1]

but you may want to post your message on the form in the Work & Employment Forum...lots of helpful people there.

From my experience, background checks are quite ordinary, though I agree they are unnecessary for many of the jobs. I think they are done to protect the company from future liability in any respect, i.e., you may not deal with cash, but what if you have a temper and punch a co-woker? Then, their insurance company pays out...

The background checks protect your employer/potential employer, not you. Depends how bad you need a job, I guess.

Smaller companies typically do not have the resources to do extensive background checks; try to get a job at a smaller place, something that is independently owned.

[golfgal]

There is nothing that says you have to sign the form but there is nothing that says that the company has to hire you if you don't. I don't know of any company that doesn't do background checks any more. If you don't want a background check, plan on never working again. As long as you disclose anything they may find on the background check there usually isn't an issue, however if you don't disclose something, even something minor, and it shows up on a background check, forget getting hired.

[harry chickpea]

I agree that some of those forms can be outrageous. They are often designed by beginning idiots in human resources with too much time on their hands. In many cases, they just get stored and never reviewed by anyone who cares.

Rather than refuse to sign, which will almost certainly result in unemployment, if the form is a long one fill the first couple of things with long and tedious answers, then get really creative in the middle. List your employment as a rabbit for greenfield farms, give your address as longitudes and latitudes, put down how much you got for an allowance in the credit section, etc.. If the form isn't read in any depth, you'll not raise red flags. If it is read, the reader may get such a kick out of it that he does a pass. The worst that can happen is that you don't get the job, which you wouldn't get anyway.

I have as serious a problem with the random drug testing agreements. I have no problems with them as long as the executive officers and board of directors have to submit to them as well on an equal basis. They don't want druggies working for them, I don't want to work for druggies.