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 😩

[ThatIsMyPotato]

That's so weird. And also presumes you lived off your husband's salary. You might be wealthy enough to have lived off your savings.

[ElphabaTWitch]

Don’t know never heard of this. Surely this is crossing a line somewhere though? Perhaps it’s to prove you weren’t locked up in prison for the last 15 years for a child related offence or some such nonsense. ( although surely a background check would confirm this???) I wonder if they would ask a stay at home DAD for this invasive proof???? Maybe move the thread to legal?

[ElphabaTWitch]

More proof women are becoming lower and lower on the spectrum these days 😔

[DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou]

@TheJackieWeaver

It’s probably for DBS / safeguarding reasons. When applying for roles in schools you have to give a full employment history and explain any gaps. It’s not to judge or invade your privacy, but to check you weren’t in prison, not omitting a job from your cv, etc. I’ve never heard of anyone been asked for bank statements to prove it though! Maybe ask if they’d accept anything else? Or try calling one of the teaching unions for advice?

Rubbish.

I've worked in a school as a TA to very vulnerable children and I wasn't expected to explain my extensive gap in working.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

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). I didn’t give them every one but rather a savings account statement showing I had enough cash to cover several months.
It’s to do with anti fraud in FS - a job you are failing to mention because you were sacked etc.
It may be the same in the education sector to stop people failing to mention issues that may be safeguarding risks.

[Gemma2019]

Unfortunately you will be subject to a detailed gap analysis as you have been out of the workplace for so long and this is a job needing an enhanced DBS. They legally have to do it. You will need to prove exactly what you have been doing since the children were born, and they are asking for bank statements to see if any payments have gone in from employers you might not have mentioned. If you have done any voluntary work, or your parent can vouch that you were their carer for the entire time, that would also be fine, but you will definitely need evidence to explain the gap with any new employer.

[chloeb8]

I have done loads of agency work and never been asked for this before. They are a totally shit agency anyway.

[SummerWhisper]

Ask them to show you their terms and conditions that state this as being part of their process. It's highly inappropriate and sexist to ask for this. It's possible you could use the Equality Act against them. Speak to ACAS for advice, then ask for a meeting with the manager of the recruiting branch.

[redcandlelight]

are you british?
is that the newish employer check that you are allowed to live and work in uk?

[Greenmarmalade]

What?!

I’m a teacher and I was off work for several years as a single parent. I have to list the gap in my applications but never have I had to show any supporting documents.

Say no!

[Pintosmash]

they are asking for bank statements to see if any payments have gone in from employers you might not have mentioned.
How will they check that on her husbands account?

[RevolvingPivot]

@Temp023

Well my husbands bank statements wouldn’t tell them anything, they’d have to see the joint account.. but anyway haven’t you been claiming tax credits, can’t you show that as evidence?

Not all SAHM receive benefits.

[PurpleWh1teGreen]

For safeguarding, gaps have to be explained, with plausible reasons. Not non-existent.

Being a SAHM before applying for a TA role is an Acceptable gap. I’m also not sure what a man’s bank statements would prove anyway.

[LubaLuca]

I was asked by the Student Loan Company to provide my husband's bank statements when I wasn't making any repayments due to not working. I told them to contact him directly for the information, which they didn't.

[daisybrown37]

I worked for REED Social Care, many years ago. Continued to work in Social Care and Education until now.

They are thorough on examining gaps - I used to have to check for visas to cover gaps for travelling - but I never asked for bank statements. Maybe a character reference from someone who had known them - governors, PTA, another parent.

Outside of REED, we still had to cover gaps, but OFSTED would accept a declaration from the candidate about the reasons for the gaps and a enhanced DBS.

I don’t see how the bank statements cover your not working and would say no.

Having worked with REED, I would not use them as a candidate. Try other education agencies, companies such as Tradewind do education support staff. There are loads of agencies - get one that is local to you, who might have links with local schools.

[Keepingitreal14]

@TheJackieWeaver

It’s probably for DBS / safeguarding reasons. When applying for roles in schools you have to give a full employment history and explain any gaps. It’s not to judge or invade your privacy, but to check you weren’t in prison, not omitting a job from your cv, etc. I’ve never heard of anyone been asked for bank statements to prove it though! Maybe ask if they’d accept anything else? Or try calling one of the teaching unions for advice?

This is exactly what it is. They need to ensure you aren’t hiding any employment during that time.
They will be checking that there isn’t another income being hidden. They really don’t care about anything else on the statements.
The company I used to work for would ask for statements to prove no income during the time that people had said they were unemployed. We did often find evidence of some short time jobs in that period that people hadn’t bothered declaring for what ever reason.

[Hadalifeonce]

I cannot believe they would expect anybody to supply someone else's personal details, neither you nor they have any rights to do this.

Surely if you have children, this will be the reason for the gap in your working life. That's exactly what I put on my CV and any job applications I have completed. I have never been asked to prove I have children or how I supported myself.

[GintyMcGinty]

Ask to speak to a manager.

I can't believe that this is company policy. I'm sure this is a rogue recruiter.

[AbsolutelyPatsy]

for what purpose?
how bizarre

[81Byerley]

@TheJackieWeaver

It’s probably for DBS / safeguarding reasons. When applying for roles in schools you have to give a full employment history and explain any gaps. It’s not to judge or invade your privacy, but to check you weren’t in prison, not omitting a job from your cv, etc. I’ve never heard of anyone been asked for bank statements to prove it though! Maybe ask if they’d accept anything else? Or try calling one of the teaching unions for advice?

Maybe you're right about the full employment history, but how would her husband's bank statement prove anything? If I was you, @Weepingwillowtree, I would just say that it would be a breach of your husband's confidentiality.

[SionnachGlic]

It sounds really odd asking for his statements, I would not be happy with that. If the do need proof of his income/ability to support, could you give them something from his employer that simply confirms his position & annual salary.

I do understand how the need to be vigilant in screening but asking for his bank statements is too much.

[Pintosmash]

They will be checking that there isn’t another income being hidden
Surely they would need to ask for ops bank statements then, not her husbands.

[Arbadacarba]

Tell them to catch a train to 1952, where your husband's bank statements will be readily available.

[NouvelleMamanNouvelleVie]

I had this exact problem with Reed. (Was yours in Cheshire??) Didn't ask for bank statements but they were militant with their enquiries and were unable to compute an eight week summer holiday was not a period of unemployment or a prison spell. Surely you did some volunteering over the summer, they said. No, I get as far away as possible during the summer.
The guilty until proven innocent culture of potential school staff is awful. Reed are particularly bad for this. I felt like a commodity. In not so many words I told them to stick the job. I went to a different agency and it was fine.

[Keepingitreal14]

@ElphabaTWitch

More proof women are becoming lower and lower on the spectrum these days 😔

Absolutely nothing to do with being a woman 🤣 if a man had taken a career break to raise the children or travel the world, he would be asked for exactly the same information!