Credit checks and employment

[loveishope]

I accepted a position at memorial hermann and they are conducting a background check. My question is, if you have bad credit will they not hire me as a nurse.

[TeleNurse2010]

I wouldn't worry about it until it is over. If they rescind their offer, then you need to find out why and that will answer your question. In this economy, I don't think that will hinder you as many people have ruined credit nowadays.

[stefanyjoy]

I think it is so sad that employers are still allowed to check someone's credit. You aren't asking them for a loan, you're asking them for a job. :-(

[kids]

In years of checking the credit reports on applicants I've never looked at the financial part.

A credit report can be a great source of previous addresses and employers as the background reports are usually regional or only look at the States the applicant discloses.

THREE times I've encountered nurses who had lived and worked 6-18 months in another State yet there was no mention of it on their app or resume. A little more digging revealed that their licenses in those undisclosed States were freshly suspended or revoked (one had a conviction for a serious crime and had jumped bail pending sentencing).

All 3 had (apparently) high tailed back to where they still had (at that point) active, unencumbered 2 year licenses and were trying to secure employment before was notified that their license were encumbered.

Yes, I notified my State BoN that they needed to investigate the status of those nurse's out of State licenses. Yes, all 3 ended up with their licenses in my State suspended or revoked.

The majority of employers don't verify the status of a license except at hire and renewal.

Many (the majority?) States don't require nurses notify them of who their employer is.

I agree it's intrusive but until there is a better system for tracking bad nurses from State to State it's another tool that can be used to protect patients and employers.

[Biffbradford]

My credit is the worst and that's why I need a job so badly! At my last interview, I was specifically told that they do not do credit checks, but will check for any kind of involvement you may have with authorities, be the law or municipal (short of parking tickets, etc). Okay, so I told HR that I got a fine from my city for not painting my house quick enough when told to, and they said yes, put that down on the form to be completely honest, although they wouldn't hold hiring me because I didn't paint my house like I was supposed to. :)

However, I didn't get that job, so ???

[Bruin's Mom]

I have never heard of a place checking your credit for a nursing position; in fact, I believe it is illegal to even look into that. I think if they didn't hire you because of bad credit wouldn't that be discrimination. When they do a background check they are looking for criminal activity, arrests, jail time, etc:)

[ChuckeRN, BSN, RN]

You need to get out more if you've never heard of an employer (nursing or otherwise) checking a prospective employees credit.

As for the practice being illegal, just where did you come up with that idea? I believe in most States, if you were denied employment, or credit due to your credit report, you have the right to request a copy of the credit report that was pulled on you, but discriminatory? I don't know about that.

I have never heard of a place checking your credit for a nursing position; in fact I believe it is illegal to even look into that. I think if they didn't hire you because of bad credit wouldn't that be discrimination. When they do a background check they are looking for criminal activity, arrests, jail time, etc:)[/quote']

[kids]

I have never heard of a place checking your credit for a nursing position; in fact I believe it is illegal to even look into that. I think if they didn't hire you because of bad credit wouldn't that be discrimination. When they do a background check they are looking for criminal activity, arrests, jail time, etc:)[/quote']

Anyone can run a credit check on anybody as long as they have consent.

Read the fine print on the application, mention of the credit check is usually right above your signature. Even the electronic apps I've been doing lately have mention of it.

Here is a simple explaination on the hows and whys of employers running credit reports (and how & why it's legal): http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/backgroundcheck/a/background.htm

[kenyacka]

Most companies don't care about your credit unless you're actually handeling money or credit card info, etc. Even then, they don't always care. The only time I've been turned down for a job because of credit was at a bank, which made perfect sense lol. In fact they told me upfront that they do run a credit check. I told them I had a bancruptcy in my past so we decided it wasn't worth either of our time to go forward with the process.

[Bruin's Mom]

You need to get out more if you've never heard of an employer (nursing or otherwise) checking a prospective employees credit.

As for the practice being illegal, just where did you come up with that idea? I believe in most States, if you were denied employment, or credit due to your credit report, you have the right to request a copy of the credit report that was pulled on you, but discriminatory? I don't know about that.

Do you actually think that every nurse that you work with has perfect credit? No you cannot be denied a job due to the fact that you have bad credit, it is discriminatory. And just to let you know, I do get out alot. Prospective employers may check your credit, but does bad credit make you a bad nurse? Some people have circumstances that are out of their control that causes them to have bad credit not by their choice.

[RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN]

Do you actually think that every nurse that you work with has perfect credit? No you cannot be denied a job due to the fact that you have bad credit it is discriminatory. And just to let you know, I do get out alot. Prospective employers may check your credit, but does bad credit make you a bad nurse? Some people have circumstances that are out of their control that causes them to have bad credit not by their choice.[/quote']

You CAN be denied a job because of bad credit. If you have repossessions/collections or credit card(s) with a high balance and/or are overdue, they can choose not to hire you. I read that TSA won't hire someone with overdue debt of more than $5,000. A bill is trying to get passed that would not allow credit checks to be used for employment but currently only Hawaii and Washington prohibit credit checks.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

I have never heard of a place checking your credit for a nursing position; in fact I believe it is illegal to even look into that. I think if they didn't hire you because of bad credit wouldn't that be discrimination. When they do a background check they are looking for criminal activity, arrests, jail time, etc:)[/quote']

Many places run credit and criminal record checks. Most employers do not look at the financial aspect of the credit report, but it will show places you've lived and had credit. As Kids mentioned, some people try to hid things when applying for a job. Some people are also dishonest when doing a resume. It gives a prospective employer a better look at the person applying for the job.