Airport Security ???? (Vanity)

06/19/02 | Myself

[clamper1797]

Here's the story ... I got to the airport to fly to "an other state" for an interview. My flight was delayed so I started to go thru my pre-employment packet. I found in this packet a notice that the company not only wanted to drug test which I had grudgingly agreed to but they also wanted a credit report and a driving record. All this for a circuit design job which has NOTHING to do witn finance or driving. I called the company and asked the HR person, " what does credit and driving have to do with designing circuitry ???". The HR person said that they ask for that info from everybody. I said that when I applied for my government Top Secret clearance I was not asked for my credit report and driving record why do you need them. I also said that the only thing your company has not asked for is my voting record. I then told the HR lady that I could NOT work for a company that would ask such questions. What would your company do next ... read my email ... bug my office ??? I then cancelled the interview and gave my ticket back to the counter and asked for my bag that I checked in. The counter person took me out to the little baggage train ON THE TARMAC NEXT TO THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT GOING THRU SECURITY and helped me go thru all the bags on it to find mine. BTW I went thru the security gate with my 3 inch pocket knife and car keys IN MY POCKET. I meant to put them in my check-in bag but forgot.

[OldFriend]

I can only repeat......the company is lucky he opted out.

[clamper1797]

Oh I agree ... to a point ... they can ask what they want ... and I have a right NOT to work for them. What if they do want my voting record or political affiliation ... where does it stop ????

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I can see your point - really.....but I said information obtained "legally"......I think your voting record is protected by the privacy act isn't it? As well as your party affiliation? And yes, you made a decision based on your own feelings - which everyone should do.

[Born in a Rage]

they ask for that info from everybody

It's absurd. The local soccer league wanted my 8 year olds SS# to play on the league....they can go to he!!. I don't blame you passing on that job...

[clamper1797]

I never said that companies could not ask. I said that I am offended by it and it's presumptions of guilty till proven innocent and that I personally would not work for a company that pries into peoples lives. Just because I may have a traffic ticket should not affect my job as a circuit designer nor should a credit rating. Sure I could think of several lame excuses for it but one could find an lame excuse for just about anything.

The "knife" in question is a mini combo bottle opener / wine knife. Bottomline, it is metal and so are my keys but it did not set off the security gate alarm though it was in my pocket. I carry it everywhere and simply forgot about it. It couldn't hurt anyone unless you tried to drown them in beer. BUT I did forget it ... oh well I guess I'm not perfect like Oldfriend .. wish he would show me how to do that walk on water trick.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Clamper let me ask you a question....... Say you are working for a company and they need to hire someone to work with you on a project. They see a resume - credentials are identical to yours, the second resume is similar.....so they interview to make the decision.......both are equally qualified for the job.........They check credit ratings.....one guy has pretty good credit, a few minor things.......the other guy has a crappy credit rating - late payments, missed payments........and company cancelled credit cards. Which guy seems more responsible? Which one do you want sitting beside you everyday, with possible access to personal information on you?

I'm just trying to point out that it isn't necessarily bad that the company is asking some questions about possible employees.........

[Born in a Rage]

Which one do you want sitting beside you everyday, with possible access to personal information on you?

The one who wouldn't give the information out to every Tom, Dick or Harry that asked.

[clamper1797]

A bad credit rating is NOT a sign of an irresponsible person. It may be (and a LOT of times is) the sign of someone who went thru a bad divorce, or had a very ill child or other close family member, or had a bad accident themselves. That argument is TOTAL BS.

[clamper1797]

My lady paid her truck off early. The finance company erroneously reported her account as repossesed though she was NEVER late. It took 18 months and over $1000 in legal fees to have it removed. AND it STILL appears on occasion untiil we re-send the dispute letter. My friend Tony had his identity stolen and has been fighting the credit reporting agencies on a daily basis for two years. Neither one is irresponsible but could be denied a job based on their credit report. Maybe you had better reconsider that irresponsible argument. My lady is looking over my shoulder as I write this ... you DON"T want to hear her lanquage right now !!!

[clamper1797]

Oh ... to answer your question ...if the guy sitting next to me is getting his work done correctly and on time ... it is NONE of my DAMN business what his driving record or credit report looks like

[clamper1797]

Oh ... to answer your question ...if the guy sitting next to me is getting his work done correctly and on time ... it is NONE of my DAMN business what his driving record or credit report looks like

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Good Lord Clamper......take a midol or something - I wasn't accusing you or your "lady" of being horrible people and I didn't say that every person with an error or problem with a credit report was some kind of wash out............

Again, I will write this - the company has the right to use whatever means it determines (legally) to chose an employee....but now we know the reason you got your panties in a wad over the credit report.........sorry you have a problem with that........ perhaps you can get it all corrected.......

[clamper1797]

Well ... I'm not angry but when I hear that "irresponsible" crap it raises my hackles. My brother is a divorce lawyer and I hear story after story about ruined credit. Bottomline ... most of the time ... credit report are NOT a measure of a persons responsibility. And a company who uses them as that measure are companies that can do without MY services.

[clamper1797]

Oh ... and BTW my credit report is fine AND I would pass the drug test without ANY problem BUT I still resent having to deal with either of them ... as should any reasonable person. IMHO

[1tin_soldier]

ok--now do it again.

[clamper1797]

Do what again .....????

[1tin_soldier]

Bingo! Thank you so much. It's a shame this needs to be pointed out.

I hold no animosity toward the company for whom I chose not to urinate. It was their free will to ask and mine to decline. It only goes bad when you bring in what or whom should be a disinterested third party who wants to decide the matter for everyone. It is only then that rights are trampled.

[1tin_soldier]

where ever you choose. Or when businesses find it cost-prohibitive (can't find enough employees).

[1tin_soldier]

Even if his name was Mohammed?

[clamper1797]

That .... my friend ... is exactly and precisely what I plan to do and the whole point of the first part of my original post, Quite frankly I am surprised that I didn't have more support about that action out here on FR. Granted a company can "try" to do what they want BUT it is the right of ANY prospective liberty loving job candidate to tell them ... to cram it. Which is exactly what I did.