Corporations are bypassing the law with cleaver Application "release"

Has anyone ever heard that a company cannot contact your previous employer and ask them anything except your hire and release dates? It used to be the law protected your privacy and filling out an application was just..

Well.. Filling out an application to work somewhere. But now the very law that's there to protect you is jeopardized by the tricky maneuvering of all the companies you could apply for.

This law was in place amongst other things to assure a company who fired you without real reason (they made it up as a way to get rid of you because say for example you had morals and refused to harm others just because your boss told you to) couldnt hinder your ability to get hired somewhere else. I can understand a company wanting to know your history details but the reality of it is alot of companies fire people for bad reasons and attach a stigma to their public image with the flick of thier wrist and a pen.

Giving companies the ability to supercede this law gives those unscrupulous companies too much power to harass people in my opinion.

No Signature no Job

To get any position anywhere your required to fill out and sign an application for employment, but do you realize the last line before you sign (no sign no job) stipulates that you release all of your information from past employers including personal performance and anything else they want to tell them?

I find this actually offensive that their doing this. You're forced to sign the application but you cannot opt out of that particular "release" so this is truly extortion isn't it? They say you can apply somewhere else but truly their is no longer a "somewhere else" where this doesn't apply (no pun intended).

It's the principal not the fact that my private experiences with another company will be released that heats me up about this. I didn't realize companies were stooping this low until I was helping a friend with their resume..

If you ask me this is just another step towards pushing people to want to earn their living at home, online and capitalizing on their intellectual properties and talents.. I know I don't like working for those companies out there as they are all pretty much corrupt. It's trading time for a tiny wage, hardly worthy of your contribution, and then they strip away your privacy and before long your dignity.

I hereby authorize Starbucks to thoroughly investigate my background, references, employment record and other matters related to my suitability for employment.

(Nothing unusual so far)

I authorize persons, schools, my current employer (if applicable), and

(Here's where they embed this "release"):

Previous employers and organizations contacted by starbucks to provide any relevant information regarding my current and/or previous employment and I release all persons, schools, employers of any and all claims for providing such information. I understand that misrepresentation or omission of facts may result in rejection of this application, or if hired discipline up to and including dismissal.

Did you catch that? In signing your application which you cannot not do.. (Catch 22?) You are "releasing all persons, schools and employers (that means last job too) of any and all "claims" for providing such information.. this means the law is no longer protecting you if you sign this document.

Home depot and just about every other business does this. I suggest you read that disclaimer carefully before you sign that application.. If your going to add a "questionable" company on your resume they will have every right to say to your potential employer what ever they want, your giving them permission by signing it. The contract for employment thats not a contract for employment (read that part too)..

Yet it is ONLY really a contract for releasing your privacy.. embedded in a ploy.. sneaky sneaky.. its a wonder noone wants to go job hunting or dreads the very idea of filling out applications.. I can't wait for the world of web 4.0 where their will be many other options.. much like hub pages did any of you have to interview for this position? No. Can you make 2 grand a month eventually? sure. point in case.

Their is a way to defend yourself but it has to be done before your "discharged", let go or quit. It takes a bit of work on your part but all around it should be standard practice and sadly isn't.

This will not help you if your in the already discharged position but this will help you if your currently in good standing where you work, and in new jobs, actually if you learn the techniques in this next hub this could escalate you from poor standing to great standing but it will take time and a bit of diligence and perseverance and especially tact.

This hub will however, if you were discharged or fired (same thing depending on how it happened) this hub could help you not make the same mistakes. Learn from your experience and translate that pain and humiliation into lessons. Using this next hub you can use what you realize now to power your efforts and to motivate you not to be the victim of this conspiracy again. This could be a healing hub for you if you're in despair about it. Their is hope for you yet!

Currently writing article on this.. Called

"How to assure you're a valuable asset to any company and protect yourself in the case of being terminated prematurely or unfairly"

I decided to give it its own hub as its a whole topic on its own. when its published (later today) it will be linked to right here.