How Can I Support Someone Facing Legal Trouble Over a Job Verification Issue?

We received an employee verification request, but the person never worked with us, so I replied accordingly. Now, the recruiting company is taking legal action against him. I got a call from him; he said he did it to secure the job and was lacking some experience. I don't know this person, but he reminded me of our struggle to get our first job. Can I help him in any way?

Your decision to inform the verification agency that the job applicant in question did not work in your company was consistent with your personal values. Therefore, there is no need to go on a guilt trip. Millions get jobs without resorting to deceit of any kind, so why is this person not able to do so? Instead of enhancing his employability, he is interested in obtaining a job through falsification. If that job candidate falsified information, then that is his problem and not yours. Feel sorry for a while and move on.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

While concurring with Dinesh Divekar, let me also expand on what he mentioned and suggested.

Understanding 'Paatra Daan' and 'Apaattra Daan'

In Sanskrit, there are two related words that I usually bear in mind while weighing the options in similar situations that you are in now—'paatra daan' and 'apaatra daan'. Though there are no exact equivalents in English, the nearest would be 'deserving' and 'undeserving'. While these words have a connection with the general Karma theory and I can get into it to explain at a deeper level, I don't think that's the point here.

Applying to your situation, do you think having pity or planning to help [please note that his definition of 'help' could be different from mine or yours or Dinesh Divekar's or others'] this guy is right?

Considering Your Query: "Can I Help Him in Any Way?"

I think you already have helped him—to make him take responsibility for the consequences of his actions. If that's not clear, let me explain.

Assuming you feel the pangs of guilt [like Dinesh Divekar mentioned] for having caused him to forfeit a job and you now intend to give a wrong report [that he worked in your company] the next time an employee verification request comes to you, do you think he will stop at that? In a way, it is more likely to become a habit for him and at some point in his career, he will get caught. What if it leads to you and your company? Do you wish to risk your reputation for such a guy and, more importantly, for such a cause? Whether it actually happens or not isn't the issue—what if it happens—can you take it? I surely cannot guarantee that it won't.

It's your call.

Any and every big scam/crime begins with small actions that either don't get caught or are condoned [for whatever reasons]. I guess you don't have to go very far to find analogies and examples for this aspect of human psychology.

It would have been a different matter if he had given the facts of his situation before this blew up. Maybe then you could have taken a more lenient view.

All the Best.

Regards,
TS

You have justified your job. HR people are supposed to give correct information during verification. You do not know who this person is. Why didn't this person come and speak to you before seeking your reference? I find no point in saving a stranger's job.

I do not know why you ask this question at all. Did you have any other option than replying in the negative? On what basis do you want to help him? A 'yes' would have caused legal action against you, jeopardizing your career. Forget and move on.

It would have been a different story for you if he had approached you through some reference or something like that and requested a reference, upfront putting the experience details in the CV.

Though, morally, it would have been still incorrect to falsify the information so he could build his career on this false premise.

Just this weekend, in Sakal newspaper, I read an article about a person who falsified his educational information while getting a job, and it haunts him in his few years of career. This guy has changed jobs frequently in the fright that he would get caught. He seeks help from the educational institute to correct his educational background, but now it is legally not possible. He has to take psychiatric consultations to get peace of mind, and he may take the matter to court just because he wants to get rid of his guilt (prayashchitta).

These are rare cases, but they happen...

Generally, organizations would just reject such candidates and go on... But if this organization is pursuing legal action, that means they have already signed some contract with him.

The person had to understand the gravity of signing such contracts before falsifying the information...

So, in my opinion, his career issues are no more due to your rejection, but his own risks... :-)

Best Regards,

Amod.