In the movie
Gattaca humans in the not too distant future are categorized solely by there
genes. People know essential from birth there limitations and opportunities without being given the chance to "break the mold".
With that said, I was browsing around craigslist and snagajob.com looking for a part time second job and I cam across a
job posting for AMF bowling for a bartender and a lane
server. No big deal, standard fair mostly except I noticed one thing.... The add said this.
As a committed equal opportunity employer who strictly maintains a drug free workplace, AMF conducts pre-employment criminal, drug, social security
and credit screening.
Uh, ok, why exactly do I need good credit to work at a bowling alley again? Social security screening? To bring cocktails and food to people who are
bowling, really? I have no problem at all with criminal background checks or drug tests, but credit and social security screening to work at a bowling
alley? Give me a break.
My point is, gone are the days when you would go in for an interview, talk to somebody and they would give your references a call and if it checked
out you were good, your hired. These days it's more like, ok, you can have the job if you can pass the 5 background and security checks we run on
you.
Maybe this has alot to do with why the unemployment rate is nationally at 9% because with the economic downturn, housing forclosers and layoffs people
are behind on there bills and there credit rating plummets so when they try to go get a job they find that an increasing number of employers are
judging candidates based on things like a credit score and the employer makes the decision that it's not the right fit.
This probably would make sense for some jobs (banking, financial consulting, etc) but I refuse to believe AMF bowling needs to run my credit to
determine if im capable of pouring a beer for somebody.
43% of all U.S. employers run credit screening on applicants, that is alarming and some states, barely a handful are trying to strictly limit
employers from doing this but in my mind, there should be strict guidelines across the board for what type of positions warrant this type of excessive
job screening.
This is a problem for alot of people and a real issue created by corporate goons too force you to pay your chase bill on time.
% data and article about what some states are trying to do