Help! My former employer is hampering my search for new work

[BuelahWitch]

I was laid off from Verizon Wireless in April of last year. Like a good little worker bee, I've been submitting applications to different places. However, I've met with little success. Well, it's the economy.

Now I have a company that wants to hire me. But the HR person tells me that she can't get verification on my employment at VZW unless she calls a 900 number at $15 or pays $10 on the web to do so (incidentally, I gave her the HR number for VZW in St. Louis).

Always skeptical, I call the toll free number provided by my former employer who is outsourcing this work. She's completely correct, while the phone does say I worked at VZW, they won't verify dates or places unless the verifyer pays for it.

My benefits have almost run out, and I'm worried that I'll never get a job now since my most recent employment requires companies PAY to verify I worked with them.

What's a laid off worker to do?

[Lithos]

1. Pragmatically?

Pay it out of pocket and deduct this expense from your taxes (job search related).

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. That sounds illegal

did you check with tyour state Attorney General's office to see if Verizon can do that in your state?

[sangh0]

4. I agree. Contact the AG

and Legal Aid (if there's one near you) and find out what the laws in your area have to say about that. People have sued their fmr employers and won for intefering with their job searches.

[Bunny]

10. This has happened where I work.

When I called to check references on a prospective employee, I was told the same thing - call a number and pay for the reference. I didn't call because I had obtained at least two other job references for the candidate, so I didn't really need it. And, as a small, non-profit company, there's no way we'd pay $10-15 to get a reference on a prospective employee. Would cost way too much money.

I want to say that it was Sears, but I'm not positive so don't hold me to it. The point is, Verizon isn't the only one doing this. Maybe it is legal. Pretty shitty, tho.

I'd offer to pay for it, and then get it in a hard copy if I could. That way you'd have it for all future employers if it came up again. Good luck.

[demnan]

3. In this situation

I think it would be perfectly understandable to get references from co-workers you formerly worked with and offer as an alternative.

[Stuckinthebush]

5. Tell the potential employer that you will pay for the search

You can't afford to wait another minute. Tell them that you will give them the money to do the search and then call the AGs office and report this company.

Also (once you have the new job), contact your local newspaper and some national papers presenting your story. This is a perfect example of corporate greed and screwing the little guy.

But...right now you can't stand on your principles. You must get the job first.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[denverbill]

12. I agree with the above post.

Pay the $15, get the reference, and then start calling people.

That's truly fucked up. Verizon needs to get some adverse publicity for this. Maybe a few thousand people cancelling their service would wake their sorry asses up.

[Racenut20]

6. Request a Service Letter via certified mail

If they don't give it to you they are subject to a lawsuit.

[TheBigGuy]

7. what a bunch of cheap-ass f_ckers!

Gee whiz!

BTW, I think you got some good advice here...pay it out of pocket and deduct it from yr taxes.

[TioDiego]

8. That is just despicable.

Cheap labor neocons, have no heart. Who would want to work for them! I changing my cell phone to another company. Dang it.

[AP]

9. Ask if there's another way to confirm employment

As a last resort, you should pay the fee, because it should be worth it for you to make this investment, and then complain complain complain to everyone who will listen--especially your congressperson and every newspaper which will print your letter.

The way you'll get this changed (short of a legislative solution) is if you can hurt Verizon's ability to recruit new employees. If enough potential employees know of this policy, it might discourage them from working there. Once the cost of this policy is shifted back to Verizon, I'm sure they'll want to change the policy.

Of course, if your state or federal legislature choses to impose common sense on Verizon first, that's even better.

[BuelahWitch]

11. Thanks for all the quick info

First of all I'm giving the St. Louis number on all apps right now. And I will report to KS AG too. This is an obsticle to getting work.

I'd pay the $10, but I paid rent this week and there's very little less.

[Fescue4u]

13. Pretty damn cheap company

If they won't pay $10 bucks during a background search.

I guarantee you that if you they hire an outside firm, they'll pay ALOT more than $10 to check you out.

Actually, these services ($10 a call) have been around for about 6 years now. However they have usually been optional..that is you could still call HR.

Seriously, if you new company cant pony up $10 bucks, do you really want to for them?

[Bushfire]

14. US Bank does this as well

Verizon is not alone in corporate greed, and interfering in workers right to seek other employment. Find references from within Verizon if at all possible as an alternative.