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Release of information Job Search
By Anonymous Hero
Posted Wed Sep 14, 2005 at 11:33:55 AM PDT
Our HR office now requires "online" applications for positions, with at least a minimal set of information (name, phone, email) and questions (we will request that application materials be sent as normal to limit problems and hastle for applicants). One of the few remaining required questions asks for a response to "I hereby authorize the release of information held by any parties regarding previous employment, criminal history record, record of convictions ... credit history, worker's compensation history, driving record, scholastic educational records ..." Applicants are not required to click on "I agree" but we contend that many applicants could find this to be annoying and/or offensive and may in some cases choose to opt out of applying and go on to their next job application. We think that most have no objections to things like informal contacts with colleagues, but of course this asks for much more than that. I would be interested in seeing comments on this issue. Would you respond "I do not agree" to such a question?

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Release of information | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)
[new] I'm not sure... (none / 0) (#1)
by chawne on Fri Sep 16, 2005 at 04:52:40 AM PDT

If yours is a job I have my heart set on, I probably would allow this info to be released, but would not be happy about it. Otherwise, I'd just move on to the next application.


[new] Underneath the surface.... (none / 0) (#2)
by jkuchen on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:54:29 AM PDT

I wouldn't respond "I do not agree," but I'd be worried about the institution. This appears to be a question that is more directed toward support staff rather than faculty, and that would make me wonder about the relationship between the HR department and the academic side. Unless I knew additional (and attracting) information about the institution, I would either not submit an application or use the institution as a backup.


[new] Legality (none / 0) (#3)
by sormani on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:23:37 PM PDT

I'd click on "I agree" because I'd be afriad not to.

I'd be a lot happier if the math department wrote on its own webpage that all applications should feel free to click "I do not agree" or if it even went so far as to tell all applicants it prefers if they click "I do not agree".

Meanwhile, is this legal?



[new] Other side (none / 0) (#4)
by brianbirgen on Mon Sep 26, 2005 at 12:21:28 PM PDT

At my school, we generally do not do background checks of our new hires. I believe the security department does, but most of the other departments do not. It has been discussed that this is a dangerous policy and perhaps we should be doing a basic background search of all job applicants.

Suppose we hire someone who turns out to be a convicted sex offender and they run afoul of the law. We would look very bad as a school if it came out that we hired such a person without doing a background check first.

Simply from the perspective of the hiring institution, it is in their best interest to perform a very basic background check of an applicant (a Google search at a minimum). It might be a sign of "Big Brother" or it might just be a sign of an overly litiguous society.



Release of information | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)
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