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Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

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Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#11

Post by jzwinck »

zodiac wrote: post #5

Why is he failing background checks if he's never been non-wrongfully convicted? Genuinely curious to hear from anyone with experience on the employer side of this.

There are two kinds of background checks. The official kind done by a dedicated team with access and knowledge to retrieve city, state and federal data. And the HR kind, where someone without an investigative background and education spends ten minutes doing web searches and online "stalking" to see if the candidate has any untoward elements in their past.

The first kind costs hundreds dollars per candidate. The second can be done for about twenty bucks worth of time. You can guess which approach most companies use.

It's easier on most candidates, too, because a real background check requires them to fill out paperwork. An ad hoc one they may never know about...unless they fail.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#12

Post by sdrothrock »

In his case, it sounds like the problem isn't homelessness itself, but:

1. A crappy background check system that reports him as an ex-con/drug dealer when he's been exonerated.

2. Companies using those systems and judging him without giving him a chance to speak up.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#13

Post by jzwinck »

meesterdude wrote: post #8

Is there anything we can do for him? I mean this is just nuts.

Now that he's in the NYT he will probably be OK. The question is what to do about other people in similar situations.

I once received an application from someone quite famous. But he was famous because of a criminal case against him which was ongoing. We let this scare us off, because as a small company we didn't want the exposure if we did hire him. I'm not sure it was a very moral decision, but does your startup have time to deal with that?

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#14

Post by zodiac »

jzwinck wrote: post #11
zodiac wrote: post #5

Why is he failing background checks if he's never been non-wrongfully convicted? Genuinely curious to hear from anyone with experience on the employer side of this.

There are two kinds of background checks. The official kind done by a dedicated team with access and knowledge to retrieve city, state and federal data. And the HR kind, where someone without an investigative background and education spends ten minutes doing web searches and online "stalking" to see if the candidate has any untoward elements in their past. The first kind costs hundreds dollars per candidate. The seco…

The article states that he's gotten job offers before that were he couldn't accept, presumably because he failed the second kind of background check. Would the employers generally tell someone the reason for rescinding an offer?

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#15

Post by ommunist »

I believe the only clear way for him is to leave the US and land some international job at some place good as Australia or Sing. Yes, the US will loose a good cyber cop. But as you can see here, this is entirely the US systematic problem. Simmons does not deserve to serve lifetime living in the US, struggling for foodstamps.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#16

Post by nickff »

sdrothrock wrote: post #12

In his case, it sounds like the problem isn't homelessness itself, but: 1. A crappy background check system that reports him as an ex-con/drug dealer when he's been exonerated. 2. Companies using those systems and judging him without giving him a chance to speak up.

Even the president is in favor of punishing people who have been suspected of crimes; it seems to be a popular position that people are not really innocent until proven guilty.[1][2] I find this trend deeply troubling, but it does seem at least somewhat popular.

#2 is at least partly due to the fact the if the companies allowed him an opportunity to refute the claim, they would be incurring various legal liabilities. The rules meant to protect job candidates often result in them being passed over at the first stage where it is realized they are 'complex' cases.

[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/201...

[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/201...

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#17

Post by sdrothrock »

nickff wrote: post #16
sdrothrock wrote: post #12

In his case, it sounds like the problem isn't homelessness itself, but: 1. A crappy background check system that reports him as an ex-con/drug dealer when he's been exonerated. 2. Companies using those systems and judging him without giving him a chance to speak up.

Even the president is in favor of punishing people who have been suspected of crimes; it seems to be a popular position that people are not really innocent until proven guilty.[1][2] I find this trend deeply troubling, but it does seem at least somewhat popular. #2 is at least partly due to the fact the if the companies allowed him an opportunity to refute the claim, they would be incurring various legal liabilities.…

> #2 is at least partly due to the fact the if the companies allowed him an opportunity to refute the claim, they would be incurring various legal liabilities.

Interesting! I'd thought it was simply done in the name of efficiency.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#18

Post by elcct »

sdrothrock wrote: post #12

In his case, it sounds like the problem isn't homelessness itself, but: 1. A crappy background check system that reports him as an ex-con/drug dealer when he's been exonerated. 2. Companies using those systems and judging him without giving him a chance to speak up.

Not sure what's the problem with drug dealing? If he was selling weed, then he was in fact doing a public service against fat cats in pharma industry. Also nobody is forced to buy drugs.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#19

Post by jzwinck »

zodiac wrote: post #14
jzwinck wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are two kinds of background checks. The official kind done by a dedicated team with access and knowledge to retrieve city, state and federal data. And the HR kind, where someone without an investigative background and education spends ten minutes doing web searches and online "stalking" to see if the candidate has any untoward elements in their past. The first kind costs hundreds dollars per candidate. The seco…

The article states that he's gotten job offers before that were he couldn't accept, presumably because he failed the second kind of background check. Would the employers generally tell someone the reason for rescinding an offer?

In America they would absolutely not disclose the reason for not hiring someone. Commonly accepted HR wisdom in the US is that it would open the company up to lawsuits.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#20

Post by cshimmin »

elcct wrote: post #18
sdrothrock wrote: post #12

In his case, it sounds like the problem isn't homelessness itself, but: 1. A crappy background check system that reports him as an ex-con/drug dealer when he's been exonerated. 2. Companies using those systems and judging him without giving him a chance to speak up.

Not sure what's the problem with drug dealing? If he was selling weed, then he was in fact doing a public service against fat cats in pharma industry. Also nobody is forced to buy drugs.

Well, for one thing the charge was for selling crack cocaine...
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