When You Get Terminated From A Job Does It Go On Your Record?
Getting fired from a job is heartbreaking and distressing, yet it will happen to some of us. You must know how to deal with it and whether it affects your future. So if you were wondering if any job termination goes on your record, then you’re not alone.
Everyone that deals with such an issue is afraid of any repercussions that might come from getting fired.
What can you do when something like this happens, and is there a way to tackle the problem? Here’s the best approach!
Does job termination result in a record entry?
The short answer is Yes; your job termination will go on record. The reason is that employment records have all private information about your working history.
It will show when you started working for a company, when you left it, and why. If a workplace fires you, a copy of the termination letter you got from the employer is on the list.
Most employers want to avoid lawsuits, so the information they divulge is not comprehensive. Some might even avoid sharing the reason behind your termination to prevent any wrongful termination lawsuit. However, if the employer wants to write a reason behind your termination, they can do that.
How much time will that stay on the record? It will be for as long as the employee record exists. Some of these records can be removed or changed after a year, but the process will differ from one company to another. However, most of the time, your termination will be on the record, yet the amount of time it will stay there will be very different.
Does job abandonment go on your record?
Just like termination, job abandonment will stay on your record. If you abandon your current workplace, this will be on the employment record. However, job abandonment is similar to voluntary resignation. But it does come with specific ramifications, especially if you want to find another workplace.
Some employers blatantly refuse to hire someone with a record of job abandonment. That’s why you need to be very careful when abandoning any job. Taking the right actions is crucial here, and quitting your current job might not be the ideal option. Job abandonment appears when you stop going to work and don’t want to return there, yet you never told your employer about this.
Can a background check find out if you were fired?
Generally, a background check will not include details about any previous employer or termination info. Regular background checks will primarily focus on criminal records or anything of that nature. Of course, if the person ordering such a check wants to see the reasons behind any firing, then the company checking your info might try to get a hand on your employee record.
They can also do a credit check, but it’s not always mandatory. However, specific components of a job termination can sometimes appear on your record. If the background check is specifically about employment, then your job termination might occur on it. Otherwise, if it’s just a general background check, then all that info might not be relevant.
What is the purpose of employment background checks?
When a company does an employment background check, the primary reason is to ensure that you are trustworthy.
When employment background checks appear, usually, the company wants to learn more about your criminal record, any instances of criminal behavior, theft, and so on. They also want to see if you have any history of safety problems or workplace harassment.
As you can expect, many employers want to avoid troublesome hires. Because of that, they will order employment background checks for most of their potential employers. Once they do that, it becomes a lot easier to narrow down problems, which can lead to significant benefits. These employment background checks become crucial for upper-tier positions, so they are certainly something to consider.
Can you be fired after being hired due to a background check?
One might think that’s not the case, but it is. When you sign an employment document, you agree to the employer’s requirements. If they decide to do a background check after you get hired, it can be an issue. They have all the grounds to fire you if you lied about your background.
That’s why you need to state the truth in all your interviews and when you sign a document. If you lie and the background check proves that, the employer can fire you on the spot if they want to.
Is it possible to access your employee record?
Depending on the country, you may or may not have access to the employee record. In the UK, according to the GDPR, the employee can submit a request to access their data. An employer has to comply with that requirement. Countries outside of Europe have regulations regarding employee record access; usually, that’s impossible. Yet, in the UK and EU, that’s certainly a possibility due to GDPR.
What’s in the personnel file? That depends, but generally, you can have things like salary, job title, contract, address, name, performance reviews, and others. The resume, disciplinary actions, training records, background checks, safety, health, tax, and payroll information can also be a part of the file. The same thing is valid about attendance/leave records too.
Is it possible for another company to discover that you were terminated from a previous job?
Employers aren’t legally prohibited from sharing information about previous employers. However, unless the two companies have a great connection and share that kind of info, it rarely happens that a new employer knows the reasons behind a termination. However, if the new employer wants to talk with your previous workplace, nothing stops them.
In most cases, previous employers will share some of that info, like termination reasons/why you left, etc. So while you don’t have to disclose this info, that doesn’t mean the new employer will remain in the dark. They can investigate, do a background check, and do other similar things.
It’s much better to stay honest and share this info yourself. It will build trust between you and the new employer.
Do employers care if you were terminated?
It can be hard to say because every employer has a different approach. There are some cases when employers care since you get hired on a higher tier position, and they need to trust you.
Termination is not appealing when you want to be a manager, for example. But even then, it comes down to what caused that termination and why this happens. However, you will notice that most terminations won’t affect prospective employers. If anything, termination can be due to the employer cutting costs, etc.
Many employers will see people voluntarily quitting jobs as something negative. They want to know why a potential employee left their previous workplace, as they might do the same here.
How should you address being fired when speaking to an interviewer?
Addressing this topic can be tricky because it can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the employer might not care, yet disclosing this can be an issue.
Yet at the same time, if you hide it and the employer does a background check, it will backfire quite a bit. So the question is, how should you address being fired when speaking to an interviewer? Ideally, you want to stay honest.
You want to be upfront and direct and avoid hiding any info. Be honest and say why brought this problem, and ensure you prevent any bias. If you have any preference, the employer might detect that, which can lead to difficulties along the way. Ensure you retain a great sense of honesty; the more you hide, the more problematic it will become.
Conclusion
You want to disclose job termination whenever you are dealing with a new employer. Talking about this during an interview and not dwelling too much on the info is going to be an excellent idea. We always think that honesty is ideal; you don’t want to hide information from any prospective employer.
- The Impact of Job Hopping: Are There Career Consequences? - April 25, 2024
- Should You Follow up on a Job Application - April 22, 2024
- Job Application: Best Practices for Listing Reasons for Leaving a Job - April 18, 2024