Fit & proper test

sangie595

aife wrote: »

I believe this is fairly standard practice for jobs in the judiciary or financial sector - are you in this type of role ?
Either way it does seem odd for them to suddenly ask this after seven years. Has your role changed recently ?
If you're not working in one of these sectors it seems very intrusive , might be an argument for breach of privacy ?
I'm assuming you don't have a union since you haven't mentioned one . Unfortunately think this might be another one of those 'not fair but not much you can do about it' cases

It is actually very common for such terms to be introduced part way through somebody's employment. They are much more recent terms for many employers, just as CRB and now DBS checks are. Other employers require basic criminal record disclosures, something else that is recent. There's always going to be sooner people who were in the job before it came about. That is not a reason for them not to have too accept the term. And there is no applicable law on "breach of privacy", so it would be hard to construct an argument about something that does not exist.

If not telling someone that you got into debt and have made arrangements to manage that debt is more important than having the money to pay the debt, then yes, you may as well resign. But that is hardly a sensible approach, given that there is no correlation between filling in the form and definitely being sacked, and a dismissal on those grounds alone is highly unlikely to be fair in law. At the very least you'd have the chance to argue that, which resigning doesn't give you.

haras_nosirrah

I work in financial services and have to do a fit and proper every year and credit checked every year.

The reason is that if I have financial issues how can I advise others but also I may be more open to bribes, acting improperly etc.

if you are in a financial role it may be that the fca have put this regulation on them.

if you are honest with them then I doubt you will lose your job. Try to hide it and come out looking shifty and dishonest and you probably will. Depends how much you like your job and want to stay working in financial services as the fit and proper questionnaire is quite widespread

antrobus

Always_Happy wrote: »

I work in the finance dept for a manufacturing company. I have been in the same role since I started. I think it's an invasion of my privacy too. No we don't have a union.

Finance dept? That would be it then. If you are playing around with the company's money, the company wants to know how good you are at playing around with your own money.:)

Are you a member of any professional accounting body? Quite a few of them take an interest in members who enter an "arrangement with creditors". It can result in disciplinary action.

DCFC79

Always_Happy wrote: »

I work in the finance dept for a manufacturing company. I have been in the same role since I started. I think it's an invasion of my privacy too. No we don't have a union.

The firm needs to know if anyone is open to bribes etc.

If you were the boss and you wanted to protect your business/your money you would definitely want to know if Joe in the finance dept has any debts/ want to have complete faith in him to not be coerced into siphoning off some money.

Manxman_in_exile

Always_Happy wrote: »

No im not hiding anything. I just feel after working somewhere for such a long time it's insulting that my personal finances are going to be used to continue my employment. Not only that, admitting my debt is embarrassing and not something I want people knowing.
Looks like either way I'll have no job!

Personally, if I were part of your management, I would admire your honesty and candour. As Sangie says, it would be more difficult to sack you for being honest and open rather than for concealing something they've asked you about.


Embarrassment doesn't really come into it when the alternative is possibly losing your job. I'd rather be (temporarily) embarrassed than jobless.

mac.d

haras_nosirrah wrote: »

The reason is that if I have financial issues how can I advise others but also I may be more open to bribes, acting improperly etc.

if you are in a financial role it may be that the fca have put this regulation on them.

That's it in a nutshell. It's nothing to do with your honesty, it's nothing to do with invading your privacy, and just because you have worked there for a long time, doesn't mean that they shouldn't ask you to sign the fit & proper form. They are just either doing what they should have been doing all along, or complying with regulations. And just because you have arrangements with creditors, doesn't automatically mean you will fail.