should potential employers use credit checks?

[smartnurse1982]

Just would like opinions on the subject. I've noticed more potential employers using credit checks as a condition of employment.

Has your employer checked your credit? on my credit report I've noticed several looked at my credit report. Just want it to be out there why some can't secure positions.

[Fribblet]

It can make sense. I don't think employers (nor do I think they do) should turn down a candidate on the basis of a credit report, but it can, potentially, say a lot about a candidate.

For instance, some one who has multiple lines of credit open, has defaulted on loans and is in a mound of debt, may be desperate, and desperation can lead people to do some shady things.

Whereas a stellar credit report shows that candidate is responsible.

But mostly, I think hospitals do it to see if a candidate has outstanding debt with the hospital itself.

[txredheadnurse, BSN, RN]

Considering how many people have really been through the wringer financially over the last two years it seems rather cruel to allow a less than stellar credit report deny a person employment.

I have heard all the pros about an indication of character, honesty, etc. What it indicates primarily is how responsibly one can manage credit which does not necessarily indicate that a person will be a dishonest, unproductive or "bad" employee. Personally I think the use of credit reports as significant deciding factor in offering employment is an excuse some employers use to subtly discriminate against individuals since credit reports also take into account one's address, overall income and other social factors in figuring their scores.

Just my

[DogWmn]

NO NO NO, it should be illegal to do a credit check for a hire. Think about the times we live in, people have fallen behind due to this crappy economy...just because their credit isn't the best dosen't mean they won't do a good job...they need the job to fix their credit.

That's like a job add I saw the other day..."unemployed need not apply", so this company wants to steal employees from another company???

The only exception should be if they have a bank/finance job that deals directly with funds.

[smartnurse1982]

I was shocked when I saw them on my credit report. I had not checked my report in a year. It seems to have recently started because I didn't see employer inquiries on my report 2 years ago. I know a lot of people who struggled financially during nursing school(including me) so my report score isn't so great.

[Leelee2]

Bankruptcies due to medical bills increased by nearly 50 percent in a six-year period, from 46 percent in 2001 to 62 percent in 2007, and most of those who filed for bankruptcy were middle-class, well-educated homeowners, according to a report that will be published in the August issue of The American Journal of Medicine. CNNHealth.com on June 5th, 2009

No, I don't think potential employers should be using credit checks for screening new employees. I think that the practice is unethical, poor health and uninsured or under-insured...does NOT mean lazy and irresponsible. Nor does it make it one a thief. With this being the worst economic times since the great depression, many people have fallen on hard times, no one should be denied employment because of it. (and you know, it happens!)

[happy2learn]

Easy answer, no.

It's usually easy to tell if a person has had a circumstance that caused their credit to burn.

In those cases, I don't think credit should be taken into consideration. For myself, I have horrible credit, filing Chapter 7 next month. When I was 19, I was an idiot and racked up a ton of credit card debt. Then I met my hubby and together we racked up the debt like a bunch of fools:banghead:

Anyways, if you look at our credit reports, you can see when we crashed. It was when I become unemployed (became ill) and we could no longer afford the credit card bills. We stopped paying them all. We lost 1 car (which hasn't helped the job hunt) and we were late on our other car payment every month. We had to have a student loan put into hardship. This all happened within a 3 month period.

However, we have been on time on all of our bills (except credit card) every month for the past 8 months.

Lesson learned I must say. I like to believe I'm an expert in finances and budgeting now.

But I hate that some employers may see me as an unfit employee over it.

Guess I better get to work rebuilding my credit so that by the time I graduate, the only negative will be my bankruptcy (which will be 3 years old by that time.)

[happy2learn]

The only exception should be if they have a bank/finance job that deals directly with funds.

What's funny is I got a job as a Loan Officer and also at another place counting out the registers every day and handling deposits all with........ terrible credit.

[Selene006, BSN, LPN]

My employer has checked my credit. I also had to sign an arbitration agreement. I waited for the CORI check to be run, and gave the random urine sample. By the end of the human resources meeting, I felt like all of my privacy had been scraped away from me before I even set foot on the unit to work!

I agree with you, Leelee2. More and more people are struggling to get by and a potential employee shouldn't be judged by his/ her credit score/ report! That being said, I wanted the job and I was told up front that I would not be hired if I didn't sign the paperwork.

[kcochrane]

I think it is a terrible indicator of someone's worth as a nurse. People have bad credit for so many reasons. Some could just have spouses or ex spouses that ran up debt for them.

Divorce, job loss, medical issues are common reasons to have bad credit. I would love to see the statistics on credit and work ethic and if they even correlate.

[Jokerhill]

Yes, they should be able to, it says a lot about the person and if they have been able to maintain themselves or not. I want someone working for me that can plan and prepare for the future. It is called responsibility, and if you can't take care of yourself how can I hire you to take care of someone else? I don't like workers who continually take chances and then can't back them up. It is fine to take a risk now and then, I actually encourage it, but only those risk you can afford to take and are prepared for. For example, I love to race cars and to mountain bike, but I carry long term disability insurance just in case I get hurt, so I can still take care of my self and my family, if an accident occurs.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

Everybody and their mother checks people's credit scores. My employer did, the insurance company where I got my car insurance did, and the credit union where I opened an account did. I wish it didn't have to be this way. Aren't past references enough?