SHOULD EMPLOYEES BE ALLOWED TO PULL CREDIT CHECKS ON EVERYBODY???

SHOULD EMPLOYEES BE ALLOWED TO PULL CREDIT CHECKS ON EVERYBODY???

Because there are many people out of work, chances are their credit isn't so good nowadays. So, do you think it’s fair for a potential employer to hold your credit history against you?

Employers say they care about your credit. Most even require credit checks included in the application process.

But not everyone agrees with the policy. A new survey by credit.Com reveals over fifty percent of Americans-53%--are against employers receiving a look at your credit when considering you for a job. There are many people needing work, suffering and depression are on the rise. Why in God's name are we putting another impediment in the way of job seekers?

There's a bill in congress which would prohibit the use of credit checks with regards to making a hiring decision, with a few exceptions. That includes people applying for a national security position or perhaps a job where they'd handle considerable amounts of money. Representative Steve Cohen proposed the legislation, saying these credit checks are creating a vicious circle that's unattainable. To paraphrase Rep.  Steve Cohen:  You do not have work, you lose your house, you've got your medical debt and before you know it your credit rating is gone very quickly. Those who want a job are being denied through no fault of their own.

The important question:   Does poor credit equal bad employees? Research shows the wrong employees can be devastating to an organization, according to James Ratley, from the National associations of Certified Fraud Examiners. "When someone has financial hardships themselves they're far more inclined to take money that doesn't belong to them. Employee credit checks for potential workers are an important part of the candidate selection process.” However, most people do not handle money or have access to company accounts.   Why do potential employees authorize the potential employer’s access to their credit information?  One reason is that many people do not even know they are authorizing it:  It is buried in the boilerplate language of the application.  The other reason is that if you do deny them, your application might not make it to the next step.