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?

98% YABU. Pretty unanimous!

I don’t really see the problem, it wouldn’t put me off him in the slightest. If anything, looking would make me think he was sensible, and telling me means that he’s honest and transparent.

I’d be impressed he’d taken time to do research

Makes perfect sense to me 🤷‍♀️

The interviewee was just doing due diligence. I think you are way over reacting and I think those research skills would maybe serve well in the potential role

Sounds like he did he research. He wants to make sure the company is viable and can afford him. Personally I think you are being very unreasonable. I’d have done the same as him tbh.

I would always check the accounts and public filings of any organisation I was considering working for. I may well ask a question about it at interview if I thought there was something worth asking.

You do want to check references, see qualifications and all that sort of thing of your potential employee, don't you. Why are you so disturbed that they're checking you out too.

Who wouldn’t look? Or is just because they admitted it.

YABU. It's public info and if I was applying for a job with a smallish business (which I'm guessing yours is) it's definitely something I'd do. He sounds like a diligent candidate who's done his homework. Instead of being so put out by this, you should be offering him the job!

You are being completely unreasonable. I would see that as a positive and can't for the life of me understand why you would think otherwise. I'm sure the candidate would think twice about taking a job with you if he knew this is how you are. What a strange (and very unprofessional) reaction. I'd run a mile if I were your candidate.

Its normal practice to investigate a company before working for them.. In fact all the careers advice I've ever had says employers respect and expect this.

Before reading your question details I wondered if you meant your personal accounts (and wondered how the interviewee could have found them) , so surprised was I that you could object to him or her investigating your company

They absolutely should be public info! Transparency is only a positive thing for private companies! I’d have been impressed that he took the time and understood the accounts. I would always do the same prior to an interview too.

Mmm... this is a classic case of employers forgetting that interviews are for the employee to see if they want to work there too... I really hope he reads this and goes somewhere else...

Excellent research on behalf of the interviewee - that is the person I would pick for the job.

He's doing his due diligence - anyone would. Especially if it's a youngish company. I'm sure you'll be checking his references if you decide to offer a position?

Standard interview advice is to look into the company so you can show the interviewer that you are serious about working for their company and took the time to research it.

Therefore, it sounds to me like the personal aspect of it likely went right over his head and he meant to impress you, by letting you know he'd done his research.

I find it suspect you think it dodgy someone has done their research and due diligence. It would make me uncomfortable in trusting you. You do realise interviews go both ways?

YABU

In a finance role, I would 100% expect it of every (good) applicant.

In a sales/customer support/supply chain role, it is a positive that they know where to find the publicly available information to check on the financial viability of potential customers or suppliers.

As an employee, it's not unreasonable that they check you don't look like you're teetering on the brink of insolvency, as they want to have a decent career path with you.

All of these things are positive. If you've found out in the process that you have been over-disclosing data for the size of your business, either change accountants or pay more attention to your obligations as a Director! If you don't want people to know what you earn, find someone else to be a legal Director for your company and pay yourself fully PAYE (and all the additional taxes required).

If you want the benefit of low taxes on dividends etc, unfortunately you have to play by the system and information goes on the public record.

Don't loose a good potential employee over your personal hang ups with UK Companies Act law though! They did the right thing.

Is this because you're one of the many employers who think you're doing a favour by hiring someone? Therefore it's "cheeky" for them to question you/your business at all.

Because as per PP on first page, you're not. He is well within his rights to check out the place he is looking to work at and whether or not he wants to work there. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement, he also needs to be sure you're right for him as you do.

How is this thread still going on?? He looked you up. That was the right thing to do, and even more upfront he told you he had. This is all great. Nothing to see here.

I look up stuff on companies house a lot where I am dealing with a company whose stability matters to me, eg booking builders for a time in the future, so yes if the information was available re a future employer I would certainly look it up. You should have stayed as some traders if you were that bothered.

He's doing his due dillegence, I'm a re recruitment consultant and would think this is a great thing to do!

@MrsPsmalls
How is this thread still going on??

Because people keep adding their comments to it! Why can't they leave it alone like you and me, eh?

So you want someone who is not that switched on, or if they are switched on then at least you want them to be dishonest?