Reed want to see my husband's bank statements 😩

[Weepingwillowtree]

Desperate to get back into the workplace after 10 years out being a SAHM. Plucked up the courage to go for a Reed interview for a teaching assistant job (no qualifications required even though I have a BSc). Was told I had too much of a gap in my CV and they would need to see my husbands bank statements to “prove that I had been supported by him during this time”. I feel this is a total invasion of our privacy, what has my husbands finances got to do with whether or not I am capability of being a teaching assistant?? Am I being completely unreasonable refusing to provide this? They said they can’t give me a job unless I show his bank statements 😩

I mean... honestly, what can the dh's bank statements actually prove? That he was, for example, paying the mortgage and utility bills? So what? His wife could have been out robbing banks and using that money to pay for other things.

I think this sounds utterly ridiculous!! What would it prove anyway? You could have been working cash in hand or something all that time!

I recently went back to work after an 11 yr gap (SAHM). I have a job in a school. At the interview I explained about my CV and everything and nothing was ever asked like this. Went through the required DBS check no problem.

Cut out the (shit sounding) middle man, OP, and go direct to the school to apply!

They are required by law to establish that you have the right to work in the UK and to undertake a DBS.

They may have a policy of asking you to account for any gaps in your employment history, which is reasonable. But how you financed that gap is truly none of their business.

@OhWhyNot

The question about being qualified and experienced is not only what is important when working with the vulnerable

What’s that got to do with her husbands bank statements?

@PuzzledObserver

They are required by law to establish that you have the right to work in the UK and to undertake a DBS.

They may have a policy of asking you to account for any gaps in your employment history, which is reasonable. But how you financed that gap is truly none of their business.

Someone else's bank accounts are certainly NOT required by law to establish right to work in the UK.

I wish people would stop quoting non existent laws on this website🙄

Oh I misread🤦 ficking hell. So embarrassing!

I'd not let this one go. They're totally out of line.

@OhWhyNot

I can’t really understand the issue

You are applying to work with the most vulnerable in our society you privacy will be invaded slightly by the agency applying for the DBS check which will be enhanced

Maybe look for other areas of work if this bothers you so much

DBS doesn't require bank statements.

I had an enhanced DBS when I volunteered for my son's scout group. I didn't have to supply any bank statements. And the Scouts have an enhanced DBS that is separate from other enhanced DBS, so I'm told (might not be the case now), and still didn't need to submit bank statements.

Just go on your local council website and search for School Vacancies. You should see a choice of jobs that you can apply for, directly through the schools themselves.

Sorry but it's a completely standard procedure. It's to do with preventing money laundering. I agree it's very invasive. I was asked for my bank statements, children's birth certificates, you name it. Gave me the rage but I wanted the job.

I had an advanced (nhs)

I handed over bank’s statements I personally didn’t see the issue I’m single so can’t ask for a partners but if I wasn’t and they requested this for background checks for various reasons I still can’t see the issue

• Advanced dbs

Mmn654123 It was explained above why they may ask for a partners bank statements

@EnoughnowIthink

How will looking at her husband's bank statement show that she is safe to work with children?

It won’t. But it will, in one way or another, verify that he has supported the OP and ergo she isn’t hiding a job somewhere that she’s been dismissed from or quietly let go without the involvement of the police or other services that might show up on a CV.

OP could be in school with your children. The school needs to know that all checks that could possibly have been made have been made. You need to know it as a parent because she will automatically be able to be on her own with your child.

As I say, there are other agencies.

Getting a statement from HRMC regarding PAYE will be proof she hasn't had another job, and is, in fact, better proof than her husband's bank statements.

@Ohnomoreno

Sorry but it's a completely standard procedure. It's to do with preventing money laundering. I agree it's very invasive. I was asked for my bank statements, children's birth certificates, you name it. Gave me the rage but I wanted the job.

Why would prospective employers have anything to do with preventing money laundering? Do they even know what to look for? I get it for a mortgage application, but can't understand at all how it's relevant to getting a job.

@RandomLondoner

Wow, did GDPR pass them right by?!

I don't think they were asking her to steal his data. I don't think GDPR stops him sharing it voluntarily.

This. I don't think people get what GDPR is.

It's scary how many people are so happy to provide all kinds of private documents based purely on an assumption that it is reasonable and a flimsy excuse.

A lot of posters on here giving examples of when they had to give their own bank statements which isn't the same as handing over someone else's

It is a little bit about the law

www.gov.uk/penalties-for-employing-illegal-workers

You do need to check RTW

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945449/rehabilitation-of-offenders-guidance.pdf

The wee section on exemptions is pretty crucial too.

@OhWhyNot

I wouldn’t have a problem if they wanted my partners

I accept that working with vulnerable people they want to carry out full background checks

Other agencies may not ask the op can look around

I wouldn't be happy if I was expected to hand over my bank statements if my partner had been told they needed to give them to a recruitment agency. That would be a no from me.

Gaps in a CV are one of the first things to look for and the explanations need to be verified. I must admit that looking at a Partner’s bank statements wouldn’t have crossed my mind and there would be other ways to check. I would assume that this is Reed’s policy and would have been thoroughly checked out by their Legal team.

Never assume anything when it comes to recruitment agencies, some of them go wildly off piste.

Totally unreasonable and what would it actually prove anyway. Never heard anything like this in my life?! What did your husband say?

Oh FGS @OhWhyNot it's got nothing to do with money laundering.

Explain in detail how producing a third party bank account proves you are not a money launderer.

TurquoiseDragon

That’s your choice. I work with very vulnerable people. I understand that as much background checks need to be carried out as possible.

I’m not sure why others find that so scary

Gosh I'm typo tastic in that last post.

I never mentioned money laundering