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Comment by mgraczyk | Hacker News Reader

Very interesting, I didn't expect the accuracy and detail in this data.

All of my pay from Intel, Google, Facebook is in here. Qualcomm apparently did not report.

Also, Google (my latest employer) pulled the data just before I started working, after giving me an offer. My credit card company pulls the data every month, sometimes 2-3 times per month. Several mortgage originators have also pulled the data even though I have not gotten a mortgage (I probably filled out a form on their website).

I guess I'm okay with credit card companies monitoring this, but I'm not sure I am okay with potential employers having access to this. Is it even legal in California for them to read this information? Maybe it was legal at the time but not any more?

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> I'm okay with credit card companies monitoring this

I'm not. If they want to know, they can ask me for a paystub.

Credit card companies do ask for permission to pull financial information from brokers when you sign up.

What if you say no?

It's not really consent if declining affects your chances of getting credit or, worse, employment.

Yes it is, this is literally how credit works. You convince them you're credit worthy, they give you credit. If you don't like the particular information a credit company needs to trust you, then you try a different credit company.

I don't follow how declining a credit company would affect your employment, is there something I'm missing there?

If this data is available to some parties, it will eventually be available for everyone interested. Especially when we are talking about Equifax, there should be no doubt.

Having credit is not optional in modern society.

In the US, where credit cards are notably popular, 70-72% of people have a credit card. In other countries, it is less than this.

Even if you don't have a credit card you may have a mortgage, or a car loan, or a business loan, or...

To have none of those things in the US you must be either very rich, very poor, or dependent on someone else who does.

Many people rent and buy cars with money they have saved. Some others, use public transportation. While many middle-class people take advantage of credit, it is not a requirement to participate in modern society. It is optional, in any normal sense of the word. Search "debt-free lifestyle" and you'll find blogs of many who advocate for living this way.

You simply don't get approved for a credit card if you say no. They won't even accept your application without permission to pull your data.

If they pulled salary info after making an offer, then this is likely qualified as verification of data that prospective employee submitted. They can probably revoke that offer if one provided misleading info during application.

That's some shady behavior though. The whole point of the law is to prevent companies from penalizing employees based on prior salaries. Wouldn't be surprising if Google was finding excuses to retract offers based on seeing that they "overbid" on someone's comp. If anyone has had suspicious stuff like this happen, it sounds like it'd make a great lawsuit.

Would be nice if some journalist(s) made a big stink out of Google finding a loophole in this employee protection law.

Well I'm pretty sure I did consent to it, at least.

The scenario I had in mind would pertain to California where they aren’t allowed to ask your salary history. So if one didn’t not disclose salary info, then offer was likely not based on that info (nor on work number info). In which case they can’t pull offer due to misleading salary info. However, all bets are likely off in states with no such protection…

I'm currently interviewing for a new role, and I've already been told my expected salary is too low for me to be a senior engineer. Hardly my fault I didn't know to ask for a higher amount?!

Will obviously be challenging this if I get an offer...

just work for 4 months and job hop.

If they play games, play them too.

Does the system not ask for SSN to pull this data? If yes, how did Google get your SSN?

Disc: Googler.

IIRC Google requests SSN data for all applicants ahead of interview.

Nope. Didn't in my case.

If you work in the US you should be getting a W2 from Google in a month or two. The top left corner will contain your SSN or it's an invalid W2 because the IRS won't be able to verify this is your W2 when you submit it with your tax return.

There are exceptions to this. For example, the W2 can state "Applied for" instead of having a number.

Yes, as I said from the other comment, I provided that when I started. From GP's comment, I thought they are saying they had to provide the SSN before they started.

Google asks for SSN for background checks and whatnot.

I guess. I always thought b/g checks are done via third party but I don't recall being asked for SSN during that step. It's been a while so I guess I am not remembering right. Thanks.

You're definitely asked for a social security number for a background check because it allows for more accurate data. You want to pull the background for the correct person, after all.

SSN and proof of citizenship are required for all US companies to employ someone. It's not just background checks.

LOL. Google knows your SSN. They know everybody's SSN.

That's a good point, I wonder how many people googled their SSN or just typed it in the chrome URL bar

At the very least you need to provide proof of your SSN before you start employment in the US (as a US citizen at least). This is required for your social security benefits and some tax info. I believe in most states you actually have to physically show your social security card on the first day of employment now too.

I think you are thinking of form I-9, which is federally required. SS Card is one of may accepted forms of ID, I always use my passport instead.

> SS Card is one of may accepted forms of ID

Are those still as I remember them - with no biometric information (like a photo) and basically no security features?

It’s not intended to be a secure ID. It’s meant to be the number by which you claim your social security benefits. It’s just warped into this ungodly mess because people use it as a “secure” number.

Yeah I had to get a replacement a couple months ago and it's the exact same flimsy little cardstock card as we've always had.

That form also requires your SSN (or equivalent ITIN for non-citizens).

Using your passport doesn't obviate the requirement that they have your SSN or ITIN for the IRS.

The SSN card proves your eligibility to work, they still need to verify your ID separately (DL, voter card, etc.). They need both pieces. A passport counts as both.

They need your SSN. Not specifically your SSN card. Source: lost my SSN card ages ago.

Correct, if you have a passport or other eligible documents that attest your right to work. Your SSN card counts as one of the eligible forms of attesting your right to work but not your ID.

Which is I think what I said. They still need your SSN, just not the card itself.

I provided that on the day I started. Not when I accepted my offer.

Pretty sure Google needs your SSN to be employed at the company. Whole I-9 form, withholding taxes, giving you a W2 and all that jazz...

When you start. From reading the GP's comment I felt this was done before they started.

Does the data contain start and end dates for each employer?

Yes it does.

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