Background check

[akdiver 3]

So, wife has been at her new job for, uh, over 2 months now. The other day she got a call from HR, letting her know that they are still doing her background check via a firm in Russia - and they need her to sign some form (which is, I guess, a records release).

Now - she has been in the U.S. for over 3 years now. She has had numerous background/name checks from the FBI. She has had her fingerprints taken, what, four times now? You would think that would be enough.

I asked her if she told them (HR) that she has a statement from the police in Russia indicating she has no record there - and that it was required for her to even get her visa. She said she didn't tell them and didn't think it would matter to them.

Anyway - I just found it interesting that they're bothering to go all the way back to Russia in the course of doing this background check.

[payxibka 10,045]

In additional to criminal history, they may also be verifying other items on her resume... work history, academic acheievment, etc....

[akdiver 3]

In additional to criminal history, they may also be verifying other items on her resume... work history, academic acheievment, etc....

Yes, I know. Nevertheless, given that she has been here for more than 3 years, I find it interesting that they are putting out the money and effort to research her in Russia.

Come to think of it - I do not believe they ever asked her for her maiden name.....so if they are looking for stuff in Russia with her married name, they're not going to find anything. Could be that's what this form was about - I'll have to ask her.

Edited September 24, 2008 by akdiver

[slim 1,525]

With the kind of money she makes, why wouldn't that company have the funds to investigate her further?

[akdiver 3]

With the kind of money she makes, why wouldn't that company have the funds to investigate her further?

Well, it's not a matter of having the funds....I dunno...I just find it weird, doing background checks on people all the time, for normal plain jane jobs. It's an interesting state of society.

[obender 0]

it is very bizzare giving the current state of the world... goverment structures in two contries do not cooperate (and even quite the opposite) so even by hiring a private company in russia they would not discover anything "anti-american", which seems to be of interest in 99.9% background checks here today.

as far as criminal and may be medical problems go i can not imagine any company in usa today that would be seriously interested and more importantly would be seriously relying on the results of some russian private company search...

it just does not add up. what line of work that could be???

obender

[akdiver 3]

what line of work that could be???

it's a financial institution.

Addressing my previous comment - talked with wife. The form they asked her to sign did ask for previous names - so they can find her stuff in Russia (:

[NYGirl 0]

When I was 20 I got a position in Chase bank. Before that I worked in Dime Bank. When I was 14, I worked in a 99c store for about 3-4 years as a cashier. After about 6 months being in Chase, I received a phone call from HR who requested my paystubs from 99c store Damn, I got so worried since obviously I didn't keep them. I asked my manager what should I do and she said just to fax them my W2 form for that year that I worked in 99c and that's what I did and everything was OK. They also told me on the phone that if i can't prove that I worked in the 99c store that I could be eliminated

[akdiver 3]

When I was 20 I got a position in Chase bank. Before that I worked in Dime Bank. When I was 14, I worked in a 99c store for about 3-4 years as a cashier. After about 6 months being in Chase, I received a phone call from HR who requested my paystubs from 99c store Damn, I got so worried since obviously I didn't keep them. I asked my manager what should I do and she said just to fax them my W2 form for that year that I worked in 99c and that's what I did and everything was OK. They also told me on the phone that if i can't prove that I worked in the 99c store that I could be eliminated

Wow. What a bunch o morons (:

Who keeps W2 forms for 6 years? Hell, even the IRS demands you keep records for 3.

What 20 year old keeps tax forms from a job they had when they were 14?

No wonder the banking industry has issues.

[mox 298]

Who keeps W2 forms for 6 years? Hell, even the IRS demands you keep records for 3.

Thought it was 7? 3 would be awesome if true. (eyes over-stuffed filing cabinet)

[payxibka 10,045]

When I was 20 I got a position in Chase bank. Before that I worked in Dime Bank. When I was 14, I worked in a 99c store for about 3-4 years as a cashier. After about 6 months being in Chase, I received a phone call from HR who requested my paystubs from 99c store Damn, I got so worried since obviously I didn't keep them. I asked my manager what should I do and she said just to fax them my W2 form for that year that I worked in 99c and that's what I did and everything was OK. They also told me on the phone that if i can't prove that I worked in the 99c store that I could be eliminated

Wow. What a bunch o morons (:

Who keeps W2 forms for 6 years? Hell, even the IRS demands you keep records for 3.

What 20 year old keeps tax forms from a job they had when they were 14?

No wonder the banking industry has issues.

Actually some records are considered permanent including but not limited to the tax return itself. Supporting documents (receipts) can go earlier.

[akdiver 3]

Actually some records are considered permanent including but not limited to the tax return itself. Supporting documents (receipts) can go earlier.

Sure the tax return is permanent, but you're not required to keep it forever. That's the IRS' job.

[slim 1,525]

Addressing my previous comment - talked with wife. The form they asked her to sign did ask for previous names - so they can find her stuff in Russia (:

It's probably just one of those things they "have to do." Company policy says a background check must be done on everyone, to include home country of LPRs. So, someone has to waste thousands of company dollars tracking down your wife's previous info that has absolutely nothing to do with what's going on right now... but, they have to do it. Companies are so stupid. "Well, if we don't do it for her, than we wouldn't have to do it for that person.... and then we'd get sued for discrimination. Better we spend 48 man-hours and $2,389 to get a fax from someone over there then to get sued by the NAACP or ACLU or somebody down the road."

They also told me on the phone that if i can't prove that I worked in the 99c store that I could be eliminated

Once again, companies are so stupid. Almost every job application says something to the effect of "providing false information on this application could lead to termination of employment." But does it really matter where you worked when you were a teenager? Craziness.... but they have to do it.