what a day!

Today it was all I could do to not dive head first into a chocolate cake. Somehow I resisted the urge and settled for a small piece but let me tell you... in my heart I had the whole plate in one hand and a fork in the other!

I am not starting my new job tomorrow as planned. I cant even tell you when I will be starting this job. Apparently they are still waiting on some background info. I have bent over backwards for these people giving them every single little piece of information that they have asked for and they're still asking for more.

First it was my GED and HS diploma. Then I was subjected to TWO drug tests. The criminal background check. They didn't find out about my arson charge BTW. The law only allows them to go back 7 years for misdemeanors. They needed to know every address I have had in my life. Every name that I have used. They needed SIX professional references and three personal ones. I thought it was over. I was wrong.

First thing this morning I get a phone call. They arent able to see the raised seal on my diploma and now need to see the original. Excuse me but I am NOT sending these strangers my HS diploma! I sent them the transcript from my GED. I sent them the transcript from the MCSE training program that I took. I sent them my Microsoft ID numbers and test scores. But I have to draw the line at sending them original documents.

I figured if I scan the diploma to the computer and email them the file they will be able to see it in color instead of a faxed copy and maybe they'll be able to make out the seal. I sent that to them only to get a return email saying that they still cant see the raised lettering. Now I scan the back of the diploma so that they can see the imprints on the back from the seal. The company that I am supposed to work for said that was fine. The background checking company that the company I'm supposed to work for hired to check my background has yet to approve it. Yes, apparently even though the company itself will accept this, they still need the other company to sign off on it.

Then they call me back to say they havent as yet gotten anybody to verify my salary. Verify my salary? When did this come up? What does my salary at my last job have to do with the job that I have been offered? I know what you're thinking.... they need my salary history to gauge how much they are going to pay me for this job. But thats not it. I already have a signed job offer in my hands complete with a job description, salary, hours and bonus's. I feel like they just need this to be nosey.

First I'm told they need to speak to someone who worked at the company with me to verify that I worked there. I gave them that. Then they tell me they need to speak to someone who currently works at the company to verify how long I worked there. I gave them that. Now they are telling me that none of the people that they have spoken to are good enough because none of them can tell them how much money I made.

I'm feeling a HUGE invasion of privacy here. They have poked into every inch of the last 30 years of my life. They know when I was married. They know when I was divorced. They know my childrens names and ages. They checked into every job that I have ever had, both full and part time. They ran my drivers license. They ran a credit check even though they specifically told me that they would not be checking that. They probably even know my shoe size. I wouldnt be surprised if they've traced my ip address and are reading this blog tonight. I flat out told them that I'm beginning to feel violated by this whole process. If GETTING a job with this company is so difficult, I'm afraid to think about what actually working for them will be like.

If they had told me from the very beginning that they needed salary verification I would've somehow gotten it to them. They told me they needed W2's or paystubs showing my first and last weeks with the company to verify my tenure. Salary history was never mentioned until today. TODAY! When I'm supposed to start tomorrow. And the only person they are willing to speak to is someone in the HR department at my old job.

My old job is bankrupt. They are closed, out of business. Nobody works there anymore. It took hours on the phone to get someone over there to understand this and get them to accept testimony from someone who worked at our sister company on the west coast. Today they tell me that because the person I told them to speak to cant tell them how much money I made, he doesnt count. They want to speak to HR. The HR director was also the company controller and the sister company has just filed for bankruptcy. She is up to her neck in the process of paperwork, hearings, inventory liquidations, closing stores and trying to sell others. This woman hasnt returned a single phone call they made to her last week and so far she isnt returning any this week either. I think its safe to assume she's a little busy. If she hasnt called back by now I doubt she ever will.

Get this. I'm ranting about all of this to the recruiter who found me. This is the man who found my resume online, got me the interview and also got me more money than I was asking for. I'm on the phone ranting about this whole mess. I wanted to know why my salary history is so damned important. What I made at my last job has no bearing whatsoever on whether or not I can do that job that I'm being hired for. He tells me that he will make a few phone calls to see why all of this is happening. A little while later I get an email...

"Salary History is considered a standard when verifying employment
through a verification company, this information is not a required response. Most firms choose not release this information without written consent from their employees. "

So... let me see if I got this right. This information is NOT required and they're EXPECTING to be told that since I havent signed a consent form they cant get the information anyway. But they're holding up my start date until they can get an official NO from the HR lady? Does that make sense to anybody? Because I'm sure as hell confused!

I will be 45 years old in October. I have been working all of my adult life and I have NEVER, EVER been asked to provide half of this information. Nevermind give them my high school diploma. Every single second of my adult life has been disected and laid out to display. They have violated more of my privacy than a 6 month contract position requires.

I was telling my son all of this today and he said "who are you working for? the FBI?". I'm thinking even the FBI wouldnt even require this much bullshit.