Stunningly Stupid Hiring Practices: an Example
I see a lot of posts about obnoxious hiring practices. Most is covered very well by people that know a lot more than I about the subject. This is my segue into a real example of how to be amazingly stupid PLUS break the law while doing the hiring process!
I have an acquaintance that was just interviewing for a fairly senior position for a large organization in a good-sized city. He decided not to pursue the position. Here's why:
He submitted his resume, which, apparently went over well. He then had an initial discussion with HR, let’s call them Larry, Curly and Mo. They required a paper copy of his resume, gave him a 20-page application to fill out including requiring him to hand-write his resume. Plus, a multi-page set of questions literally repeating the resume. I guess triple coverage so Larry, Curly and Mo can each get the information.
They also required a list of items: A certified birth certificate, certified college transcripts, certified high school diploma, all on paper and all “official” (so mailed from the schools).
Ok, I'll put a bit of commentary here!
In addition to being just plain offensive, asking for all of this is illegal. Most birth certificates, at least for people several decades old and older, have the parent’s names and social security numbers. Obviously, the birth certificate has the person’s age. Some transcripts from a while back have social security numbers.
Prior to hire, it is illegal to ask for an SSN unless there is already an offer and it goes for a background check. It is illegal to ask for a candidates age. Requiring a parent’s social security number is never legal. Note: this will help a person or organization help make some money selling SSNs for identity theft.
So stupid, so illegal! Just why did Larry, Curly and Mo ask for this? What large company could think this is ok?
I'll ask you folks: what should the candidate do? Call the department of labor? Call a lawyer? Do what they ask because you desperately need a job since the pandemic made your job vanish 10 months ago?
Thoughts?
Health & Safety Manager
4 年Whenever I think of answering a question like "What large company could think this is ok?", I remember that it's 2021, and we still have MAJOR company Presidents, Vice Presidents, CEOs, etc. trying to tie raises and promotions into sexual favors, quid pro quo arrangements, and still making statements about women in the workplace that should have died when Neanderthals did. It reminds me that the only two things that are universal are hydrogen and stupidity, and we aren't sure about hydrogen.
Engineer and Musician
4 年I believe that I would have told them where to put it after their asking me to rewrite my resume by hand. The illegal part of it? If they had asked for that first, I would have been a lot cruder in my response. My tolerance for that kind of crap has been steadily diminishing over the past ten-twelve years or so.