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 😩

WetF1reDay82942
Last job, not teacher
I had to provide
Passport
Driving license
Utility bill in my name & address
Original qualification certificates
References from previous employers
CV
P45

Yes, all of that is perfectly normal and reasonable. And none of it is even your bank statement, never mind the bank statement of another member of your family who was not applying for the job in question!

So many posters don't understand data protection law. The DPA 2018 is what is relevant here and it is not just about 'consent'. All processing of personal data requires a lawful basis to do so, it is not just about consent. The law requires an organisation to follow data protection law and that includes complying with the 'principles'. For example, Is the company using the personal data in a fair, adequate and proportionate way, this has to be the case when operating within the law.

It’s a bit off but I am a contractor in financial services and I had to provide my bank statements to prove how I had supported myself during a gap in my employment (long holiday in my case)
Yes, I had similar when contracting in financial services - in my case had to explain how I financed my maternity leave as a single woman. Because as a contractor you are in a flimsier relationship with the client compared to the client's employee where there is a more solid employee - employer legal ground.

I handed over my bank statements for background checks and when my advanced dbs was applied for (nhs)

Bank statements are not required for 'background checks' which are proof of ID, proof of address and evidence of right to work. You can provide a bank statement, but it isn't a requirement, there's a range of documents you can use. Again for an enhanced DBS (which I assume is what you mean) you are not required to to provide a bank statement.

This is all a bit irrelevant really. From the OP's point of view, there's no good reason to provide her husband's bank statement to the agency and I'm sure they'll backtrack on it, especially now it's on Twitter

@RealisticSketch

Link on Reeds Twitter to this thread... Watch them back peddle like crazy. This is a garbage request.

Don't forget to include that this forces candidates to disclose any disabilities outside the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, as being in receipt of ESA/PIP (or not qualifying for them but being too unwell to work or unable to face claiming) - or being an inpatient/undergoing lengthy treatment and therefore not working - would also have to be open for discussion and examination by an unqualified recruitment consultant and they aren't exactly exemplars in disability assessment in the application.

It would therefore enable them to screen out anybody disabled as well as stay at home parents/people recently back from unpaid periods caring for children, thereby starting the 'well, they wouldn't be available for shift work/they're going to want time off for childcare/to be furloughed in the next Covid wave/can't do holiday periods/how exactly do they plan to care for the children with this job/it's going to be too physical for them to cope as they're disabled and will only go off sick as soon as they get there, so we won't put them forward in the first place' narrative.

It's an effective way of eliminating a lot of applicants with those tricksy Protected Characteristics, really. Female, Parenting, Pregnancy, Disability...

neverdropyourmooncup Absolutely!
iirc Reed are a franchise recruitment brand and as such the quality of the professional standards being exercised here are entirely down to the office management and personal standards of the 'consultant'.
The firm I recruited for (with his professional reputation) would also expect you to account for various gaps in your CV but never to supply a bank statement as proof.

I worked for Reed and this doesn't surprise me at all.

@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.

GDPR requires an organisation to have a legitimate interest in the the data (ie the OPs DHs bank statement) and they must be able to show that processing that data is necessary to satisfy the legitimate interest.

If the organisation can reasonably achieve the same result (ie verify that the OP was a SAHM) in a less intrusive way then they are deemed not to have a legitimate interest.

So yes, GDOR absolutely DOES APPLY and Reed don't have a leg to stand on.

Mmn654123

Is there any other insult you want to throw my way

Do I have the intelligence or ability to apply critical thinking skills. No I risk asses every day from instructions written on the back of a cigarette packet. I guess I’ve just got lucky so far with how well I am doing my role and with my promotion

AtiaoftheJulii I have said I would not have an issue being asked for a partners (if I had one) bank statement to carry out checks in my role. I was mistaken thinking it was for the enhanced dbs as I said earlier in thread.

@OhWhyNot That’s great you don’t mind handing over someone else’s financial information so easily and without question. Also very trusting of you.

Not a chance would my H be getting my bank statements and I wouldn’t ask for his.

It has no impact on safeguarding at all.

@OhWhyNot

Mmn654123

Is there any other insult you want to throw my way

Do I have the intelligence or ability to apply critical thinking skills. No I risk asses every day from instructions written on the back of a cigarette packet. I guess I’ve just got lucky so far with how well I am doing my role and with my promotion

AtiaoftheJulii I have said I would not have an issue being asked for a partners (if I had one) bank statement to carry out checks in my role. I was mistaken thinking it was for the enhanced dbs as I said earlier in thread.

If you work with vulnerable people as you claim and you are responsible for risk assessment then you need to take a long hard look at yourself. I will insult you because I am appalled at your attitude.

Notable that you have said nothing to suggest I’m incorrect in my assessment.

You have advised that anything goes in order to protect vulnerable people. That employers can and should do ‘as much as possible’ rather than taking an appropriate and proportionate approach.

I simply do not believe you are involved in risk assessment work. Nobody could work in that field and hold your beliefs. As least not if they are doing their job safely.

Although if you risk assessment by following instructions then maybe you are in a very junior role, just following a protocol without understanding why or what the underlying legal and ethical principles are that drive the instructions. In which case stop making out you have expertise you don’t have.

Not even convinced you have grasped from this thread WHY it’s inappropriate that the Op was asked for her husbands bank statements. Do you know why that is wrong?

Dd does this sort of TA work through an agency. (For those saying apply to the school. This is floating TA work that involves any school in a large area)

I saw the list of things she had to produce in order for her to get her advanced dbs and I don’t recall anything about her having to produce someone else’s bank statements.
That bit sounds BS

Mmn654123

Ok for you it’s fine to throw personal insults and name call.

And now reviewing my position at work (not junior)

I was wrong about the dbs as I have stated. My role if they had asked me then no I would not have an issue.

Having worked in a school as School Secretary- jobs are advertised on your local authority website and you apply through there.
For supply - we used a couple of local agencies. In the first instance, I would phone some local schools and ask which supply agencies they use, and then go with them.

@OhWhyNot

Mmn654123

Ok for you it’s fine to throw personal insults and name call.

And now reviewing my position at work (not junior)

I was wrong about the dbs as I have stated. My role if they had asked me then no I would not have an issue.

And this is what is concerning. You know you were wrong , you know your assumptions were wrong but still insist that there's no issue and you wouldn't have any if they asked you something that you now know is completely unnecessary and not a requirement.

OP, Sunsets post just now has reminded me of the power of school secretaries, especially if you are considering doing agency / supply.

Make friends with the people who do the booking.

@OhWhyNot

Mmn654123

Ok for you it’s fine to throw personal insults and name call.

And now reviewing my position at work (not junior)

I was wrong about the dbs as I have stated. My role if they had asked me then no I would not have an issue.

You would have no issue if they asked you to provide your partners bank statements?

And you don’t think that perhaps you should have an issue with that?

Honestly - do you think it makes you a better person to be willing to agree anything asked of you, because you are so caring towards vulnerable people? Can’t you see that it’s harmful not to take a stand when people are crossing clear lines?

All this ‘I would be willing to’ nonsense is wholly irrelevant. You shouldn’t be willing to. More so if you are in a senior role.

When have I said it makes me a better person

I work with people who are classed as vulnerable becuase of their diagnosis but can also be high risk

We have had very real concerns over why some people have wanted to work in our unit that was not apparent at first

An example an ex gang member regardless of their violent past, regardless of their continued possible crime related activities can also be a highly vulnerable person

So yes I could understand why the vetting went further.

@OhWhyNot

When have I said it makes me a better person

I work with people who are classed as vulnerable becuase of their diagnosis but can also be high risk

We have had very real concerns over why some people have wanted to work in our unit that was not apparent at first

An example an ex gang member regardless of their violent past, regardless of their continued possible crime related activities can also be a highly vulnerable person

So yes I could understand why the vetting went further.

But you are unable to distinguish between ‘went further’ and ‘went into totally inappropriate and purposeless territory’.

Continuing to say you think it’s appropriate when it isn’t appropriate is bizarre.

And the only plausible explanation for your continued insistence that you ‘wouldn’t mind’ is that you think you, and your work, are extra special and important and so the normal rules don’t apply and because you are willing to accept that, you are more dedicated to those in your care than others are.

But feel free to enlighten me as to what you really mean.

I said I would understand

Guidelines and procedures change all the time (particularly this past year but for different reasons)

I could understand why this would be implemented in the area I work in. As I can understand why it is in some areas of finance

Rules are not set in stone. They change or adjusted to what is deemed necessary. What applies in some areas of work doesn’t in others ie. two meter rule of social distancing

The Information Commissioner Office (ICO) might be worth informing them OP.

Also UNITE the union are interested in uncovering dodgy recruitment practices by agents /intermediaries

@OhWhyNot

I said I would understand

Guidelines and procedures change all the time (particularly this past year but for different reasons)

I could understand why this would be implemented in the area I work in. As I can understand why it is in some areas of finance

Rules are not set in stone. They change or adjusted to what is deemed necessary. What applies in some areas of work doesn’t in others ie. two meter rule of social distancing

You track down my ex and ask him 'you remember the woman you repeatedly raped back in 2011? We want to have a look at your bank statements and enquire into your financial circumstances when it's of absolutely no relevance or benefit to you whatsoever because she's applied for jobs in the town this branch is in and says she didn't have a job because she was apparently a bit too busy being abused financially, sexually and physically by you at the time'. See how inappropriate that is?

Apart from the fact that your example really gives the impression that you were suspicious of anybody BAME wanting to work there and made them leap through hoops to prove they weren't also gang members with a score to settle.

When have I mentioned tracking down an ex

BAME what are you talking about suspicions of someone from a BAME background and working with ex gang members (or ones who might not be so ex as we thought)

Im classed as BAME myself. I can assure you that not all gang members are not from BAME backgrounds.

Staff from BAME backgrounds is very well represented at work. In the most senior of management not so much which is hugely disappointing I believe for the NHS and Social Services but that is a different subject

@OhWhyNot

When have I mentioned tracking down an ex

BAME what are you talking about suspicions of someone from a BAME background and working with ex gang members (or ones who might not be so ex as we thought)

Im classed as BAME myself. I can assure you that not all gang members are not from BAME backgrounds.

Staff from BAME backgrounds is very well represented at work. In the most senior of management not so much which is hugely disappointing I believe for the NHS and Social Services but that is a different subject

FFS.

You must be being deliberately obtuse.

The op has been asked to provide bank statements that belong to a third party. Why has she been asked to do that?