zCover - Most INSANE job application I have seen

17 posts / 0 new

Tue, 2009-06-02 14:57

ArghMonkey ArghMonkey's picture

I applied for a position at zCover and received an application they wanted me to fill out, I would laugh if it wasn't so ridiculous.

The application wants you to give your G.P.A. for all your education past, it wants your drivers license but the kicker is the fine print!

"I hereby certify my answers to the foregoing questions and statements are true and complete without any reservation. I hereby authorize zCover to verify same. The use of this application does not indicate that there are positions open nor does it in any way obligate the employer. If I retain employment with zCover, I will comply with all orders, rules, policies and procedures of zCover, as amended from time to time at the sole discretion of the company. I also authorize my former employers and educational institutions to give zCover any information they might have regarding me. I hereby release them and their organizations from all liability for any damage resulting from same. I acknowledge that if, upon investigation, anything in this application is found to be untrue, I will be subject to immediate dismissal at any time during the period of employment. Also, I understand that zCover may discipline, demote, transfer or reassign me or alter the terms of my employment at any time at its discretion, with or without cause or advance notice."

So they want to get all information about you, from education to driving record and if they screw anything up and cause any problems then im supposed to release them from liability!?

And zCover can discipline, demote or transfer or fire me with or without cause and without advance notice?!?!

Full application can be downloaded here ... http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=b6221644ca2783f89bf8d6369220dcabe04e7...

This is the most asinine application I have seen, ever!

Tue, 2009-06-02 15:03

Michelle

That sounds kind of nuts.

I'd suggest working somewhere else!

Tue, 2009-06-02 15:12

martin dufresne

What happened to the axiom that abuse isn't abuse if you consent to it?

Tue, 2009-06-02 15:17

remind

What is zcover?

Tue, 2009-06-02 15:20

Michelle

Well, I think there's another axiom that abuse is abuse if the person is coerced. Which is why you're not allowed to ask certain questions during job interviews, or "sign your rights away" with someone who holds some sort of power over you (like an employer, or a landlord).

Tue, 2009-06-02 15:23

ArghMonkey ArghMonkey's picture

remind wrote:

What is zcover?

Its just some wonky cell phone cover company ...

http://www.zcover.com/

Tue, 2009-06-02 15:24

ArghMonkey ArghMonkey's picture

martin dufresne wrote:

What happened to the axiom that abuse isn't abuse if you consent to it?

What happened to it? Its a stupid axiom that isent well thought out, thats what happened to it *LOL*

Tue, 2009-06-02 15:27

Michelle

I once worked for a long distance calling card company (long gone now) in Toronto that demanded that employees sign a contract stating that they will not work for any other telecom company for six months, or maybe a year (can't remember which) after leaving the company. I signed it, knowing that they could kiss my ass and it wasn't worth the paper it was written on if I decided to leave for another job in the same industry.

But that's different than being required to sign blanket permission for pretty much every institution you've ever dealt with in the past for anything to give a potential employer personal information.

I'd like to see how well that jives with privacy legislation.

Tue, 2009-06-02 15:51

martin dufresne

Michelle: "Well, I think there's another axiom that abuse is abuse if the person is coerced. Which is why you're not allowed to ask certain questions during job interviews, or "sign your rights away" with someone who holds some sort of power over you (like an employer, or a landlord)."

I agree and this crierion pretty well disposes of the other "axiom", which is the one used to redefine prostitution as based on the prostituted person's "consent", except when overt constraint is involved.

Cuz if you're dirt-poor, strung out or homeless and a man with enough disposable money offers you some for sexual services, you are pretty well coerced, no?

Tue, 2009-06-02 16:58

#10

Michelle

No more so than any other job that sucks shit that people do simply because they'll starve if they don't.

Tue, 2009-06-02 17:02

#11

Michelle

P.S. I knew when I was writing my other post that you were going there. How about starting yet another thread about prostitution if that's what you want to discuss? This thread is about the job application we're talking about in the opening post.

Tue, 2009-06-02 17:11

#12

martin dufresne

Hey, I was just glad you were acknowledging coercion in a field where many folks deny it. No need to start a thread for that.

Tue, 2009-06-02 17:14

#13

Michelle

I have never denied that there is coercion when it comes to any work people feel forced to do in order to make a living.

Tue, 2009-06-02 18:35

#14

Stargazer

I highly doubt the application and its clauses would hold up in court. Seriously. But yeah, that's one job I would be skipping.

Wed, 2009-06-03 11:48

#15

Snuckles

Michelle wrote:

I once worked for a long distance calling card company (long gone now) in Toronto that demanded that employees sign a contract stating that they will not work for any other telecom company for six months, or maybe a year (can't remember which) after leaving the company. I signed it, knowing that they could kiss my ass and it wasn't worth the paper it was written on if I decided to leave for another job in the same industry.

Are non-compete contracts legal in Canada? I know they are outlawed in some US states, but I'm not sure what their legal status is here in Canada.

Wed, 2009-06-03 12:09

#16

Michelle

An interesting reflection on that is here.

I was just a lowly employee in an inbound call centre. I can't imagine that a) the guy who hired me would spend legal funds to sue me, and b) that any court would figure it's reasonable to have such a restrictive non-compete agreement in my contract.

Anyway, didn't matter - I quit the job and worked for a temp agency instead, which paid much better (which tells you how miserable my compensation was with the calling card company).

Wed, 2009-06-03 13:15

#17

Fleabitn2

many desperate people will sign on the dotted line without even reading that odious little paragraph