Attention shoppers: Personal background checks go retail

AP via The New York Times ^ | March 6, 2004 | ADAM GELLER

[sarcasm]

Beyond the gallon jars of mayonnaise and the office furniture, shoppers browsing the aisles at some Sam's Club stores will find something that isn't usually sold at retail -- an employee background check in a box.

"Make better hiring decisions," says the package, a little smaller than a box of breakfast cereal. "Conduct background checks quickly and easily!"

[txzman]

1984 is finally starting to get here. I pity what the lack of freedoms my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will have.

[CDHart]

Re background checks -- I work for a skilled nursing facility in Missouri. We are required by law to check the Employee Disqualification List (EDL) before an employee goes to work. Then, within 2 days after they start, we have to send a screening request to the Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR) to make sure they've not been convicted of abuse, etc.

Last August we hired a guy who seemed OK. EDL was OK but the FCSR was four months behind in their responses! In December, the guy started telling other employees about how he spent time in jail (twice!) for sexual abuse of a child.

Checked the EDL again -- came out OK. Finally called FCSR and they checked their files, and he was a convicted felon. He lied on his application, so we used that for grounds to terminate him.

The kicker here is that not only is the state so inefficient that the checks we pay for are useless, but the unemployment people have approved his unemployment!!! We told them why we let him go, but they still approved it on appeal.

So there may be a valid use for this background check thing, much as I hate to see that happen. I guess we'll continue to pay out good money to the state, and then pay for software to do our own checks to protect ourselves. What a mess!

Carolyn

[Podkayne]

I had an employee who would only work 35 hours a week. She kept filing unemployment benefit request forms that I would answer while she was at work. She stopped coming to work (unannounced) and stayed home a year and then found another job and refiled unemployment request forms against my company.

The state of missouri sent me notice that they were approving her request for unemployment unless i file an appeal and show up in person to protest. I wrote a letter to the letter generator and said the employee was needed back at work asap and could they please let her know?

Missouri will give unemployment benefits to the dead in order to justify their administrative overhead costs. And now they are short of funds and are upping our taxes so they can have more cash to fling around.

Employees have no idea how corrupt and byzantine the state and federal payroll tax system has become. My admiration and respect for all things governmental has shifted to loathing and distain.

[CDHart]

Our administrator has started a policy that whenever someone quits or is terminated, they have to sign an "exit interview" form. Either they agree that their termination is voluntary, or they sign to say they understand why they are being terminated. We have just about eliminated successful unemployment claims against us.

I agree about the governments. Have you read the Declaration of Independence lately? We owe poor old King George an apology.

Carolyn