Does this seem strange to anybody else?

[Not_Giving_Up]

A little over a week ago, I interviewed at a temp agency. They told me to call them back on Monday to see if they had gotten my background check back yet. Well, they had not, and they told me that they would contact me.

Yesterday, the guy called me and asked me again why I left my last position. I explained again that I was hospitalized, then it took a month for the doctor to release me to work. I worked less than a week, then was terminated.

This morning, I get a call from them saying that I need to provide them with a copy of my doctor's release. I've never had to supply something like this to a company. My old employers were given a copy, of course, but why does a prospective employer want it? Makes me wonder what my former bosses are saying.

[napi21]

1. Naw, just get 'em a copy of the release.

I can see some potential employer asking for proof of release. They're just covering their a**.

It's no big deal, and you're better off with the agency haveing their own copy, than depending on your former employer to provide one.

[Not_Giving_Up]

2. I'll give them a copy, no problem

The thing is, I've been down this road before. Not quite so severe, but my official termination was excessive absences, which TEC deemed beyond my control. Yeah, my lung capacity was shit for three weeks after I got out of the hospital. Anyway, I've never been asked by a potential employer for proof of why I missed at my last job.

[soothsayer]

3. If your former bosses are saying something untrue, you can sue

the pants off them!

[Not_Giving_Up]

4. I know

I know that they were looking for a reason to get rid of me. When I was unable to work, they told a co-worker "Maybe she won't come back, that will save me the trouble of firing her"....No telling what they're saying to people who are just trying to verify that I worked there.

For the record: I worked my ass off when I was there. Chaos was continually created by the boss lady and her husband, and it was impossible to get ahead. There were several days that I went to work at eight, then was told to go home at ten because one of her friends was coming up there and would need my computer.

[gardenista]

5. Could be that your former bosses are not telling the truth, and

they're verifying because they believe you, not them.

Actually, I think this sounds promising!

Best of luck NGU!

By the way, I was dumbly worried about you because I hadn't seen you in a few days!

[Not_Giving_Up]

6. True

Like I said, they'll get a copy, I just wonder what the former bosses are saying.

I wasn't around for a while. Everybody was gone, I cleaned the carpets!

[gardenista]

12. Sounds like you made the most of the time alone, but

I hope you had some fun, too!

[Not_Giving_Up]

16. I did

I went to the HDGE Meetup and the DSM Teach-in, and spent a day with a friend that I don't get to see much due to schedules.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. Ask first for what specific information they need

and explain that under HIPAA there are privacy restrictions for those involved in your health care but no restrictions for potential employers. If they're willing to tell you they only want verification of the doctor's release, an expunged version should suffice (black out all references to your actual condition.) Once they become your employer and are providing health insurance, you may be willing to share the full text of the release.

If that isn't sufficient, then this isn't a background check, it's a fishing expedition. Once you vountarily share confidential medical information there is little protection from it being used against you by all future potential employers. You may feel you have no choice in order to get the job, but since you seem concerned consider whether it's worth the effort to do as I suggested above. If you are clear it's a confidentiality issue an H.R. person should understand and let you know whether it has an impact on your employment possibilities.

[Not_Giving_Up]

9. They won't be providing health insurance anyway

It's a temp agency, no benefits there! My doctor's release doesn't state my condition, just that I was under that doctor's care from one date to another and was able return to work on such and such a date.

I do feel like this is a fishing expedition. If I was lying about why I left there, then why am I drawing unemployment (which the former employer didn't fight) with no problem?

[Gormy Cuss]

13. Having worked for temp agencies, I suspected that.

They rarely do offer health insurance, which is why I would be suspect on the reason they need this document, but as I said, if you're comfortable releasing it, then go ahead but do consider asking if they will honor HIPAA-level confidentiality rules over its use. It may be your old employer is stonewalling rather than giving the wrong reason for your departure.

The trend towards ever more invasive background checks for employment is very disturbing, especially for low pay or limited employment jobs like temp agencies. It's just another sign that workers have no clout anymore.

Good luck. I hope the agency works out for you.

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

8. They probably just want to cover themselves

Perhaps your former employer gave a different story about your termination? I would wonder, too.

I would just give them the copy. Good luck!

[LynneSin]

10. Not at all, give them the doctor's notice and take the position

:D

[Not_Giving_Up]

11. There is no position to take right now

This is just so that I can be listed as available for work with this agency.

[khashka]

14. Give 'em the release this isn't really very odd

When I was managing a bookstore and doing hiring and stuff. we were instructed when called about a previous employee to give no information other than the dates they were hired and left.

So if you only worked a week, a new employer might find that odd and want an explanation (and proof of it) as they may be getting next to no information from your previous job.

Khash.

[Not_Giving_Up]

17. I had worked at the old job for six months

I was out a month for medical reasons, returned for a week and was terminated. If the old job isn't giving info, it's not because they don't have it.

[sam sarrha]

15. They are TOTALLY freaked out about Workman's Comp !! i had a back injury

in 1987 and couldn't get a job for 8 !!! years.

finally a prospective employer that i told about my situation with Workman's Comp called me back and told me they those "F*ckers play Hard Ball".. He said they called him up the next day and said they had no problem with him hiring me, but if he did, they would cancel all his 17 other employees policies and 'Reschedule the Payments'

he said i was the best qualified person he had ever interviewed but he couldn't afford to hire me.

I told the last Temp agency after handing in the "Questionnaire" that i had no problems with the 18 year old Sprain.. which had been Miss-diagnosed..aparently to milk the system.. I told them that i would not file a Workman's Comp claim under any circumstances.. because i wanted to work again in this life time... If i hurt myself really bad i would just go crawl under something and bleed to death so i wouldn't have to.

[Not_Giving_Up]

18. I wasn't put on WC

I was hospitalized due to the worst asthma incident of my life.

[leftofthedial]

19. this is an ownership society

and your new owners want to examine the merchandise