Topic: Should Employers Screen Applicants for Problem Gambling Before Employment? - page 2. (Read 1030 times)

Even myself I have never been questioned about gambling addiction in my past employers. Although I won’t be surprised if they ask personal questions like that, but what they are often concerned are just my skills and capabilities and if I can be an asset to their company. However, with a lot of gamblers around whom some have already gambling problems, it’s not an offensive question if they want to know if you’re into gambling particularly if you are applying for a job that has something to do with money.

I agree, it's exactly wrong to ask applicants that type of question because definitely it has nothing to do with the job that they are trying to apply. Hence, if they passed all the interviews and they look fit for the job then they still needed to undergo a provisionary role (maximum of 6 months) first to see if he or she really fits to do the job before handing them the exact contract.

So it's still a case-by-case basis, and most of the jobs around will surely not have these collector's item for their employees to guard. Again, this screening should only be present on jobs that need it, but for most jobs out there, why would you want to know what your employees do with their hard-earned money anyway? Or where do they spend their money for their entertainment? Gamblers are just like any other person occupied with their hobbies that they spend money on, so why should there be any need for prying that much?

I mean it's really difficult to screen for that but anything criminal will come out in any background check. Whether gbling related or not I think most reputable jobs will do a background check.  If I'm hiring someone with extensive gambling criminal history they ain't getting hired.

point is, a gambler addict, or alcoholic/drug addict wouldn't be able to manage finances well on a company, let's say?

food for thought

maybe they can have emotional control and some dose of escapism
some people will probably be able to separate work and personal life.

Most establishment hire girls especially teens that have a good figure to attract customers.  It is part of the marketing strategy of the owner.  I do not think that the reason why the girls are only hire is because of your stated reason.  Admit it or not, in an establishment dominated by guy clients, the best thing to attract them and return is to have something that interest them.  And this time the best lure is hiring girls to serve in the establishment.

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The reason for an interview is to get a bit of information from the personal background of the person.  So questions like addictions and stuff can be asked directly to the applicant, of course it can be asked in a rude manner or in a nice way.  This depends on the interviewer besides it is the applicant that needed the job while the employer have way more option to fill the job.

Most of the time the reason why the employers hire girls is they know the capability and loyalty of those and of course at the same time is to get easily a lot of customers because of the possible aesthetically pleasing appearance of them at the same time, but of course, it is good to have a balance thing in the work to make sure it is to be fair with the skill set requirement of the job they needed.

No employing only girls may not be the reason that he has done that to avoid his money used for gambling by his workers because this time around girls are getting more active in gambling and otherwise he shouldn't have employed a boy to be the manager. He may have his own reason but I don't think it is for the reason that we are discussing here. Remember women are discreet enough more than men so they can even hide all the traces that can link the owner to think they do bet behind him. I have witnessed a young girl working in a bet store and she bet secretly, when she wins she does the cash out from the boyfriend's account.

Maybe because of the risk of these collectibles ending up being stolen by the addict? I guess that in every business where, by definition, there will be some money or value attached, the risk is there. But the employer has not the right to ask about addictions in many jurisdictions, the same as asking for political/religious/ideological/sexual inclinations, or if you want to have a baby soon or not.

If they were involved in a crime then yes, but info only about gambling addiction with no crimes attached I don't think they can ask it.

If their products is related with something useful or which can be called as collectors item then maybe its good to include the gambling addiction screen so that they can make sure that their employees is in good state of mind. Because sometimes having this issues is really a huge problem not only with the company but also with their fellow employee since those guys can disturb the harmonious workplace on the company.

I know of a very big betting house around my area. The employer only employs girls to work for him. He has close to about 10 girls as staff working for him and he made a young guy as the manager to be covering and run around for the affairs of the betting, to keep it going.
I think this might be one of the reasons for his taking such a decision of employing only girls cos he knows the dangers he might face in employing guys at times runs in the betting house

Asking them directly does not mean or related to any offence or human right violation, during interview, the interviewers ask questions in good manners, the interview would be good and official. But anyone can mismanaged money, it can be for other reasons which may not be related to gambling, not only gambling addicts can mismanaged money, there are many other money mismanagements that are not related to gambling, most of it are related to the company not able to keep track of their funds as fast as possible and appropriately.

It is a matter of thought, and mostly looking into it same situation has happened in my place of work where someone uses money that was meant for a staff to deliver goods to clients was used to play virtual game in a local betting shop opposite the company thinking to replaced the fund immediately his selected virtual games played successfully. This was very disastrous and a though issues from him, immediately he lost the money from gambling he ran to me crying that he used the money cashier gave to him for delivery on gambling and now he lost the money and didn't win. Though i do have human sympathy and not being so apparty, i did replace the money from my personal pocket and asked him not to gamble next with company's fund. That was how i saved him from losing his job.

Also noticed that gamblers are always out of funds that is, being out of cash at all times since they almost gamble with their funds i have witness many cases which is why a gamble addict find it difficult to live a debt free life.

Lastly i would say if anyone is making employment there should be a recommendation letter from their local authority's to attestify if they have any bad records concerning money misconduct in their locality or within the previously worked company before making an employment to avoid further damages from the company.

If the employers know how to do effectively and they think that it is something good to be implemented, why not? However I have never heard there is a company do such screening to their potential employees. Stealing company's money may happen not only because of gambling problem but there are many other various reasons. If the main purpose is to minimize this bad thing, the security of the company should be improved so the chance for their employees to steal money is low.

They are skilled thieves if they manage to steal and never get caught not even on a surveillance camera. Not all who do stealing are addicts but each of them has a different reason. There's that they steal for the sake of their family but if I were them I won't do that because they are already working on that company, which means they can earn money already. If they really need a money and it's still a long way to go before their pay check arrives, they can always do a cash advance from their employers.

I am sure that every good employers will always agree with that, only to retain their workers. I think there are no rules from screening an applicant so the op's idea is always possible to conduct.

Well said, whether they're problem gamblers or gambling addicts is not at all an issue. The prime factor that needs to be considered while hiring a person is his skills and whether he suits the position for which he/she is being hired. After that if he isn't able to finish his tasks by time kicking off is the right choice.

I am not that strict because I know that each person has their rights in working  and in joining company , no matter if they are gamblers or not because what is important is that how they will follow the rules and obey orders .

the company will pay depend in their performance , if the company find them not competitive then maybe kicking them that day is basically correct.

They should, but in my opinion, it doesn't really matter. If they will ask it during the interview, it could be easily avoided, and they won't know if the person is telling the truth unless they are going to use lie detector. Also, even though a certain individual has no problem in gambling addiction, it could be develop while he is working in a certain casino because of so many things.

I believe one of them is because of an influence of a certain individual who is good in brainwashing people to make the plan get a high chance of being successful, like stealing casino money etc.

 - You are right in that matter Sir because I remembered what a close friend told mine, who owns a business, he told me when he had an employee who had a gambling habit, he found out when there was a problem in his business with money missing from their branch, and he discovered that what his business sold was taken by his employee who was addicted to gambling because he owed a lot to the gambling business, so he dismissed it for termination and even filed a case because A lot of money was also taken from the advantage of his business.

Maybe that's true. But if the company suspects an employee is trying to start a crime, the company can hire someone to find out what he is doing outside of working hours so that if there is evidence that points to a crime, it can be dealt with immediately. Thus, the company also tries to prevent unwanted things from happening in its business and to find out whether its employees are good or can negatively impact the company or other employees.