To be gobsmacked that an interviewee openly told dh that he had looked at our accounts…

[ChampagneWorries]

On companies house?

Dh did an interview today via zoom and the interviewee openly told him that they had looked at our company accounts on companies house to see if we were a healthy company!

Our dividends are on there and I'm really shocked that he basically admitted to being so nosey.

I know they are public information (which i disagree with) but they do show the company income, how much cash was in the bank and our salary etc.

Dh wants to offer him the job as he had some good qualities, but this has really put me off him.

I know people do look at peoples companies on the companies house, but you don't bloody tell them surely?!

Would you still offer him the job?

I think it's fine. He/she is doing their homework. Why would they want to work for a non-viable company.
He/she sounds diligent.

@mylovelydd

Presumably the posters saying YABU and it's normal to tell you he looked up your financial information on Companies House don't actually feature on Companies House themselves Presumably they also like their home address being public knowledge and also tell people what they earn too...yeah thought not.

YANU at all Op. It's weird. I even had a potential employee look up on Rightmove our house and they commented that some friend used to live on our road...It might be one thing to look at the financial health of a company pre interview or supplying them but to tell a person to their face that they don't even know, that they know where they live and how much they earn is not normal.

Um, my company is listed on Companies House. Not 'featured on' as it's Companies House not Tatler...

I don't 'tell people what I earn' personally because I have no cause to and declaring your personal salary on a public platform is not legally required.

My company's financials are listed there though, as it's a legal requirement. One no company owner should have an issue with unless they're hiding something and / or don't understand the legal requirements of running a business.

YABVVVU. I can't believe you think it's wrong for the interviewee to mention it. I would expect interviewees to look up as much information as possible and confidently bring this up to show their level of interest, understanding of what information is available etc.
And if the role was in finance I would actively reject someone who hadn't looked up the accounts on companies House!

@mylovelydd

Presumably the posters saying YABU and it's normal to tell you he looked up your financial information on Companies House don't actually feature on Companies House themselves Presumably they also like their home address being public knowledge and also tell people what they earn too...yeah thought not.

YANU at all Op. It's weird. I even had a potential employee look up on Rightmove our house and they commented that some friend used to live on our road...It might be one thing to look at the financial health of a company pre interview or supplying them but to tell a person to their face that they don't even know, that they know where they live and how much they earn is not normal.

Neither the OP's home address or salary needs to be available on companies house, if it is that's her failure not the fault of anyone who looks it up

The stuff's out there and you can't pick and choose what he quite rightly)researches.

If he'd kept quiet would you be happy to offer him the job?

Mellonsprite
It’s public information and a potential employee wants to know if it’s a going concern surely. I think their enquiring mind is a good quality to be honest.
DynamoKev
YABVU although in a way I hope he doesn't get a job working for you - he deserves to work somewhere normal.
......
I concur with both.

Your husband is still your eldest's dad, explain that to the younger children, let them know that parenting is not always all about biology. However, that conversation could have been had a long time ago.

It was the first thing I did when applying for my last job.

You’d expect him to Google your company, wouldn’t you? The search would return your public accounts. Why on earth would you expect him to not look at them? It’s not like he’s rifling through your knicker drawer. He’s doing his research, as you’d expect him to.

I was always taught to make a good impression in an interview make sure you research the company you are interviewing with. Researching the financial stability of a business you are going to work for us a very smart move especially in the current climate.

It is for me had researched you company and he is letting you know he has to show how keen he is.

You obviously have your own hang ups about running a business and public accounts, dint take it out on the interviewee.

Absolutely standard practice

I would also expect an interviewee to search for interviewers on social media

Are you new to this by any chance?

I wouldn't want to hire someone who hadn't looked.

You are odd.

This is basic research

@mylovelydd you are wrong. I voted YABVU and my company is on companies House, along with my address etc.
I would have thought anyone with a company registered with Co's House would vote that the op is being unreasonable, given they would know full well what the point is of having accounts publicly available. My address is also listed on all my VAT invoices too . Not quite sure how I could run a business from home without doing so.
The fact that 98% of (currently) 1428 people have voted that the op is being unreasonable would probably suggest I am not alone.

In an interview I always ask why the position is available and why the previous person left.

Also what is their staff retention rate.

He sounds switched on.

I thought everyone did this, why shouldn't he say? Weird reaction, hope he finds a job elsewhere.

Oh, good lord.

It amazes me the people that manage to make serious money, with this kind of understanding and outlook.

And yes, when I worked for a Charity, my salary was discernible via the accounts.

OP - Candidates don't look to snoop on you - they look to see the health of the co, to see if there are any matters that they would usefully (and constructively) ask questions about as part of the interview, and to build a general picture of the operation. Where income comes from, where expend goes, is it building steadily, peaks and troughs - all of which an interviewer could expect a candidate to use in answers to questions if they are well researched and experienced.

Frankly, you sound a bit batshit.

So. What's the decision? Hire, or let this hapless candidate work for a less paranoid employer?

@mylovelydd

Presumably the posters saying YABU and it's normal to tell you he looked up your financial information on Companies House don't actually feature on Companies House themselves Presumably they also like their home address being public knowledge and also tell people what they earn too...yeah thought not.

YANU at all Op. It's weird. I even had a potential employee look up on Rightmove our house and they commented that some friend used to live on our road...It might be one thing to look at the financial health of a company pre interview or supplying them but to tell a person to their face that they don't even know, that they know where they live and how much they earn is not normal.

My DH’s company accounts are on the CH website and I think it’s totally normal to look up the accounts if you’re applying for a job and to discuss it at interview particularly for a senior role. I wouldn’t expect the a prospective cleaner to do it but anyone taking on a management type role my DH would be delighted if they’d done it (I just asked him). The address stated is the address where the company is based not your private address. Many business routinely look at the accounts and credit scores of their competitors, and customers it’s totally normal in the day and age. Im fundamentally nosey so I look up accounts on local business I use they make interesting and often sadly depressing reading.

@mylovelydd

Presumably the posters saying YABU and it's normal to tell you he looked up your financial information on Companies House don't actually feature on Companies House themselves Presumably they also like their home address being public knowledge and also tell people what they earn too...yeah thought not.

YANU at all Op. It's weird. I even had a potential employee look up on Rightmove our house and they commented that some friend used to live on our road...It might be one thing to look at the financial health of a company pre interview or supplying them but to tell a person to their face that they don't even know, that they know where they live and how much they earn is not normal.

It's quite straightforward, if you don't want this to be public knowledge run the business as a sole trader or partnership and take the risk yourself, rather than giving the people you deal with a tiny bit of information with which to assess their risk.

I always check the accounts, I've been made redundant twice, I only consider solvent companies.
What do you have to hide?
An interview goes 2 ways.

This is friggin hilarious. I'm embarrassed for you op.

Your response - if I knew it - would put me off working for your company.

@ChampagneWorries

Its the fact he’s told dh that he had looked at them.

Fine to look for your own security but i think it was off to admit it.

I would of thought he would of said that he had looked at our website, reviews etc not bloody financial information!

I hate people knowing our salary and how much is in the business bank etc.

I would never say that to an interviewer.

Right, so you dislike honest employees with common sense and initiative?