Comments on: You Can Say “No”

By: Cody

Cody — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 04:11:36 +0000

I sat a psych test for a job once where I was exactly what they were looking for (experience wise). But they didn’t like the result and withdrew the offer.

I asked why and for the result and they refused. I followed it up with the manager and was willing to sign a disclaimer – I wasn’t going to sue them for it, not that it would even be possible, I was just curious because the test was an hour or two investment of my time.

They still refused and I found that extremely insulting, I think we have better privacy laws since then that would have given me an avenue to force them to give it up, but at the time I just dropped it and resolved never to sit another one without a written guarantee to the results.

By: @JoshLuedeman

@JoshLuedeman — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 02:28:14 +0000

Oh how we all forget that it’s okay to say no. Thanks for reminding me Grant.

By: Grant Fritchey

Grant Fritchey — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:47:44 +0000

Thanks for the feedback guys. I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I don’t disagree with any of it.

By: Hugo Shebbeare

Hugo Shebbeare — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:11:22 +0000

Great subject. I was very happy to hear the Canadian Supreme Court decide we have a right to private life, even on Corp computers:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/supreme-court-rules-employees-have-right-to-privacy-on-work-computers/article4625660/
Only with a warrant can an employer sieze the computer to scan for personal information that would be related to a criminal offence, otherwords, hands off.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1274551–supreme-court-of-canada-employees-have-privacy-rights-over-workplace-computers
So indeed, you can say No, and the Supreme Court backs you up here.

By: Brandon Leach

Brandon Leach — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:25:01 +0000

For me, just being asked for any of that would cause me to politely end the interview and walk out. It tells me immediately that the culture of the company is real bad. Its also a matter of trust and faith. I simply don’t want to work for a company that has so little faith in their employees that they want the intimate details of their private life.

By: Steve Hall

Steve Hall — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:08:22 +0000

I once worked for a company that tried to introduce a contract that specified if the company relocated the office I worked in that I would relocate too, at my cost.
Never signed it and looked for another job. If an employer assumes they have control over your private life it would probably lead to a bad working environment and certainly a bad home life. Keeping the balance is important.

By: Feodor

Feodor — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:05:58 +0000

Grant, when I think about it, many cultures implement the inability to say ‘No’ in different forms. Take indian culture for example: saying ‘no’ is considered offensive, hence people are forced to say ‘yes’ to all questions. (For example, there is a big difference if you ask ‘Do you understand?’ and ‘Is there anything you don’t understand?’)
Actually, now I realize that at one point I was offered a contract that stated that I could not be a DBA for any company in the same branch for years after I left the one offering the contract, but I didn’t give it too much thought at the time.
And finally, I guess it is very specific to the location – here most companies require drug test (and yes, they do test for drugs, including alcohol). And people don’t say ‘no’. What’s the point.
Otherwise, I know from non-official sources here that many companies use social network APIs to do background checks on employees, potential employees and even customers. Think about it. It is just silly to ask for your email or social network passwords, when they can simply use a API service to do everyhing much faster.

Feodor