Potential Employer asking for previous pay slips, is this legal??? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Potential Employer asking for previous pay slips, is this legal???

24
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 01:50

My bro just gave an interview at a well known corporate firm recently, they seemed to like him and have conducted two interviews....

after the last interview, he was told they'd give him a call in 2 days, however a week later he received an email where he was asked to provide pay slips from his previous job....is this right?

Honestly speaking (yes he did state a slightly higher salary than he is currently drawing) though shouldn't the company just state what their ceiling is and ask him to decide if that works for him? If they feel his credentials and experience are suitable to their organisation, shouldn't they just make him an offer as opposed to asking for a pay slip???!!!

Please advise what he should do ? How should he respond to the organisation...?

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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 19 August 2011 - 18:40
Asking the current employer for salary info directly is subject to "abuse" by the current employer, perhaps unhappy the employee is leaving - giving "inaccurate" information - which is why they're trying to get document stating the salary. No way I would give it to them
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 19 August 2011 - 18:23
..and especially NOT in "executive" positions....:\:
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 21:35
Asking for bank statements is not the same as asking for payslips - but in this instance, (for myself), I would treat them the same - the information on either document is confidential, between me and my employer or me and my bank. Would this potential employer look favourably on him discussing his salary with other employees at the company? In my experience, that has always been a condition of employment - no divulging salaries to anyone else - and that includes those who do not currently employ me.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 19:57
He could always say he was just stating his salary 'expectations' in which case, let's face it, you'd always try and go a bit higher than what you're already getting.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 19:50
It's basically cutting out the step of the potential employer phoning the previous employer to confirm employment and last salary. i actually think they did call the previous employer (which is normal procedure, we do all the time, too), who confirmed the lower salary. they are asking for the payslip because of the contradicting information. in which case he probably cut his future, sorry to say. he either admits that he lied or say he cannot prove the salary , which sounds suspicious. if he has no pay slips he still could have account statements, check copies, or employment contract to prove. saying "sorry i do not have payslips" is not only suspicous but shows lack of problem solving skills. when they ask for the previous salary, there is no obligation to state a number.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 18:58
It's basically cutting out the step of the potential employer phoning the previous employer to confirm employment and last salary.
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 16:10
in my three years working here i have never once received a payslip - and i work for an international global brand! was just about to say exactly the same thing, never had one at any of the 3 companies I have worked for here. Get him to tell them that - not getting a payslip is the norm over here! He could say that it's company policy not to disclose actual earnings to potential rivals as that is most likely true. But if he does as suggested and say he doesn't get pay slips and he does, then basically he will have lied twice! Once inflating salary and then saying he doesn't get payslips. Some companies will take a rather dim view and he will still be caught out as they could then ask to see bank statements showing salary deposit or just ask the previous employer for confirmation (which they may or may not give). If I was him I'd submit payslip as requested and wait to see what they then have to say. No point in digging himself into a bigger hole.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 15:46
in my three years working here i have never once received a payslip - and i work for an international global brand! was just about to say exactly the same thing, never had one at any of the 3 companies I have worked for here. Get him to tell them that - not getting a payslip is the norm over here!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 15:41
in my three years working here i have never once received a payslip - and i work for an international global brand!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 15:25
I think it depends on your job like mokkapala said excutive positions. My dh had to supply his in the uk as well...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 15:23
I just started with a multi national and was asked to prove salary and bonus for last 3 years-would not have got the job if I hadn't. Very common here as far as I am aware. It was a very good job so glad I didnt lie about my previous salary as it would not have looked good!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 11:48
Just wanted to add that everyone looks for a better pay when they move jobs so if he did not inflate his salary too much, it should not be a problem. He could depending on the nature of his job mention bonus or some other benefits that is not shown in the salary slip or statement.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 11:45
Very normal practice especially in executive positions. My husband has worked for a few multinationals here and has always been asked his latest salary slip. Also the group I worked for does the same and it does tend to be a bit embarrassing if an otherwise good candidate has lied a lot about their previous salary. I do not think saying no it is confidential information is going to work in his favor if he wants the job. This is HR policy in many companies. I hope he gets the job!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 10:53
I personaly would not give them my paylip, as it is confidential information.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 10:23
I have never been asked for that here or in the UK and to be honest, it's not something i would provide.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 10:09
I had this with my last employer and they told me it was "company policy" never had it before and my current employer did not request that information. I asked my old boss if we could do this as I had never actually received a pay slip with my salary! They just made one, back dated it to my last month of employment and stamped and signed it. I still have a very strong relationship with my old boss and the company so it was not an issue.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 08:54
Never been asked for this !! Certainly not for the job here ! Not sure we actually receive pay slips each month here, the money magically appears in the bank account.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 05:22
Have never heard of this - anywhere!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 04:48
It is legal and not uncommon here. I provided copies of my payslips prior to accepting a job in Dubai. I questioned it myself and was advised that it was the norm. I was also told by others in more senior posiitions than mine that they were also asked for the same. I had not inflated my salary but if I had, I may have said that the figure I quoted was inclusive of all benefits including, say, staff lunches which are not shown on the payslip or some such thing ;)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 02:27
I'd ask them why they need it - if it's to determine his current salary - I'd ask what that has to do with what they are offering me. If they insist, I'd tell them my employer has a policy of disallowing sharing of this information in the marketplace in order to maintain their competitiveness. In other words, tell them if they need the info to contact your current employer and ask for it. edited by marycatherine on 18/08/2011 <em>edited by marycatherine on 18/08/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 01:58
IT got to be legal.. if its legal in the US then it has to be legal in the middle east.. since in the middle east they ask for a freaking picture for you when u apply for a job ( pretty ridiculous)... so its got to be legal...
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 18 August 2011 - 01:55
Hi Mahawish I don't know of the legalities now but back in the UK, when we offered anybody a position, we would then get confirmation from their last employer on what their leaving salary was. Don't reckon it has changed over there and so I think that your brother's prospective employers were asking for a perfectly legitimate request albeit it was over here.
 
 

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