Asked to bring payslip to job interview

L[Deactivated] on 22/02/2016 - 14:30

So the company i have been employed at has decided not to renew one of the contracts i work on.

The contract was put out for tender and has been taken on by another company.

We've had to reapply for our roles which is no biggie.

But they mentioned we will be interviewed one on one and have requested we bring our payslips along.

Is this legal?

Honestly it doesn't feel right, have never been asked to provide a payslip when going for a job interview.

Any thoughts or ideas on this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Education & Work

Comments

  • ykwon10 on 22/02/2016 - 14:38
    +5

    First time hearing this. I am not sure if its legal by law but this definitely doesn't sound right. Check with FairWork to see what can be done in this instance.

  • eqv on 22/02/2016 - 14:53
    +8

    Ask them for what purpose is the payslip? If to verify previous employment, you just need to provide company name and their HR number.
    If to negotiate pay, then just tell them your target pay is $xxx. That's the only thing that should matter, you don't need to tell them your last pay even if they ask.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/02/2016 - 15:18
      +4

      that's what they want to know how much we're getting paid.

      personally i don't feel comfortable providing this to them as i feel it ruins any possible prospect of getting a small pay rise with the new company.

  • ozbjunkie on 22/02/2016 - 15:02
    +5

    I imagine its legal to ask, and you are within your rights to refuse.

    Refuse, and if they cancel the interview, scream discrimination? People that exercise a right to privacy shouldn't be discriminated against.

  • pointless martyr on 22/02/2016 - 15:08
    +8

    Use it to your advantage - add another zero on the end, or a one at the beginning

    • tomleonhart on 22/02/2016 - 16:14

      pointless comment will gladly do it for you if you forward your payslip to him :P

    • Scrooge McDuck on 23/02/2016 - 12:56
      +3

      or a one at the beginning

      or a nine

    • goraygo on 24/02/2016 - 13:49

      you have a point here, nowadays most payslips are digitised already, it is not that hard to photoshop one and print it back…. :)

  • kachao on 22/02/2016 - 15:30

    Is it one of telecom companies in CBD?

    • [Deactivated] on 22/02/2016 - 15:43

      no it's not.

      i'll be honest straight up i will not disclose any form of hints that could reveal the identity of the prospective employer :-)

  • try2bhelpful on 22/02/2016 - 15:43
    +2

    It is worth looking at this guy's site.

    http://www.asktheheadhunter.com/welcome.htm

    He doesn't believe in letting people see your payslips.

    I'm confused by your posting. Is the interview with the company your work has been outsourced to, or your current company? If your current company they should have the info.

    If you really don't care about the job then go into the interview and when they ask about the pay say "guess" and then tell them if they are getting warmer or colder. If you do want the job then ask them why they need to know as they must have a target range for the job; ask what their target is and then tell them if you are interested. I hate that jobs nowdays don't advertise what the bucks are; save everyone some time and get down to brass tacks early.

    Funniest thing I heard of was a friend who got outsourced from his permanent job to a contractor position. As his renewal date was coming up they told him they would give him another six months so he could train the "cheaper resources" who were going to replace him. He said "nah, not interested, I will finish up on that date". The outsource company went nuts 'cause the job was important and they had no backup plan for him not being there.

    • sparkles on 22/02/2016 - 15:45
      +7

      Saying "guess" would be a excellent way of being shown the door. Don't do this.

      • try2bhelpful on 22/02/2016 - 15:47

        I did say "if really you don't care about the the job"; sorry you took this seriously :) Or if your comment is flippant then sorry I took it seriously.

        • sparkles on 22/02/2016 - 15:51
          +3

          LOL, you'd have to really not care to do this.

          It seems obvious he want to retain his employment or OP wouldn't be asking for advice.

        • try2bhelpful on 22/02/2016 - 16:21
          -2

          @sparkles: Seems like a girl can't make a flippant remark anymore. Unless this is a double gotcha.

    • pointless martyr on 22/02/2016 - 16:11

      If you really don't care about the job then go into the interview

      ….smelling of hard liquor and wearing thongs.

      Shirt is optional

      Feel free to bring some pizza or maccas to munch on while they are talking at you, asking questions about payslips and other such bull crap

      • try2bhelpful on 22/02/2016 - 16:23
        +6

        You could always ask the guy who is going the interview to show you his payslip; I'm sure that would also go down well.

        • pointless martyr on 22/02/2016 - 16:24
          +4

          'Show me yours and ill show you mine' is not a good phrase to utter in the workplace

        • try2bhelpful on 22/02/2016 - 17:02

          @pointless comment: Oh yeah, not just don't get the job but find yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit. I'm a bit of a mouthy biotch so I'm likely to retort that "I'm not getting much return on investment", but you just don't know what you are up against.

        • bassmaniac69 on 24/02/2016 - 13:23

          @try2bhelpful:

          "I'm not getting much return on investment"

          Lol, thats gold, I'll have to use that one day!!

  • sparkles on 22/02/2016 - 15:44
    -2

    You could just conveniently "forget", it will give you a chance in the interview to ask/assess why they even want it. More information will make it easier to decide whether to provide this information or not.

    • whooah1979 on 22/02/2016 - 15:59
      +2

      You could just conveniently "forget",

      their next question would then be. "timewasting. is it common for you to forget to bring data to meetings or is it only when it's convenient/inconvenient?"

    • SlartiBartFozz on 23/02/2016 - 09:50
      +1

      not just timewasting, but unreliable — definately not good traits for a potential employee

  • holdenmg on 22/02/2016 - 16:19
    +3

    I'd review what documents you have signed with the previous company.

    It is possible you may have agreed to keep such matters confidential, including your pay rate.

    I think what they are going to do is make low-ball offers to reemploy.

    Wonder what the whole process of re-interviewing is going to co$t.

  • Donaldhump on 22/02/2016 - 16:32
    +3

    wtf do they need your pay slip… what you got paid by your employer, has no bearing on what they are willing to pay you… they pay you what your worth in their eyes and if you don't like it, walk out the door, and fart on your way out.

    sort of like a home buyer asking the vendor what they paid for it, will have no difference on the price you pay.

  • giggs11 on 22/02/2016 - 16:36
    +3

    As someone else said, it's not illegal to ask, but illegal to insist on it.

    However refusing outright to provide compensation details, even if only verbally, could affect your chances of getting the role.

    So my advice would be- be open about your current compensation, and explain logically why you want a hike to go with it.
    Exception would be if you are the only person able to perform the job, and the new organization needs you at all costs- then you can throw logic and manners out the window :)

  • 2ndeffort on 22/02/2016 - 17:17
    +3

    This all depends on how much leverage you have in the transaction. How widely available is somebody like you and how much do they need your unique skills. If you hold the whip hand in the negotiations then i would tell them i wont be bringing a payslip but my range for the role would be $xxxxx. If they dont interview then no biggie, it wasnt in your range anyway. I get emails and calls from headhunters all the time, conventional manners are not to talk $$ on the first meeting but I dont want to waste anybody's time, there's no point blabbing on for an hour if their budget is $30K below my asking price, better to politely walk away upfront.

    If you dont hold a whip hand, if you are one of many for a similar role and if the supply and demand equation works against you and you are desperate for the job it is probably payslip time. If you are desperate then hiding behind a rule about payslips probably wont get you hired. if you are one of many for a similar role then the HR folks advising on the hires should have a pretty good idea of the going rate for a similar role.

  • airzone on 22/02/2016 - 20:12

    You had to reapply for your role at the same employer, and you need to bring a payslip?

    • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2016 - 08:51

      there is a new company taking over the contract, we've been made redundant in our current role and have been told to reapply for our roles within the new company

  • PJC on 22/02/2016 - 20:28
    +1

    Tell them you were advised not to by your brother-in-law, who is a barrister.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2016 - 08:20

    I'm not sure why taking along a payslip is such a big deal. I assume the salary is published, so it will not affect the wage you earn if you get the job.
    It may simply be a way for them to confirm that you worked for the previous company.
    If you value your 'privacy' more that you value getting the job then just don't go to the interview.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2016 - 08:48

      the new company have no idea of what we're getting paid, only an approximation from the company holding the contract

      • Limitless on 24/02/2016 - 09:32

        It's obvious they want to know how much to pay you but what if you don't provide pay slips and they offer you less than your previous contract? I guess you can always just tell them what you want and hope they are okay with it but if you're not the only one who can do the job you're risking them just finding someone else cheaper

        • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2016 - 09:36

          we've actually told them what we're getting paid.

          but yeah i don't feel comfortable with it

        • Limitless on 24/02/2016 - 09:43
          +1

          @timewasting: wow that is really weird then.
          I personally wouldn't provide it either (i get paid rubbish) but would ask why they require the information if you have already told them how much you got paid. I doubt they would insist on it but i wouldn't lie about lawyers or forgetting it. Honesty is the best policy especially if you're not comfortable!

  • Wonka on 23/02/2016 - 08:24

    Seek professional advice on your circumstances.

    Lets talk about a hypothetical scenario;

    A cleaner working for a cleaning company (Company A) the cleaning company had a contract with an office company (Company B) to clean their offices. Now another cleaning company has won the contract and the cleaner has to apply for a role at Company C.

    In that case (regardless of profession) then as harsh as it sounds the cleaner in my example isn't reapplying for the same role, they are applying for a new role at a new company (that happens to do practically the same as before).

    The cleaner my have been made redundant from their current role and/or may have any additional entitlements that would be stipulated in their employment contract or the industrial instrument (award etc)

    Companies move these contracts around to get a better price, increased flexibility, different contract terms etc. they don't normally do it to pay the staff, working through another contract, an increased amount.

    I asked one of the cleaners who used to work at our office what had happened to her when the cleaning contracts were changed (she was re-employed by the next cleaning company) and her summary was that she needed to do the same work, in less time, for less money.

    Perhaps company c would ask for payslip so they can pay just the same, or less?

    • Spending2Much on 24/02/2016 - 00:08

      She got it good.

      Normally it`d be more work, in less time for less money.

  • SnoozeAndLose on 23/02/2016 - 08:29
    +2

    When I apply government role, after success they ask me what is my current pay, if the amount they offer is lower then my pay, they will match it but I will need to provide my payslip to support my current pay.

    I think after you have success I will provide my payslip to prove my current salary but not at the beginning of the interview.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2016 - 08:52

    thank you everyone for your input it is greatly appreciated

  • DelhiBelly on 23/02/2016 - 09:20
    +2

    Same happened to me but at offer stage. I was asked to submit references, visa status docs and payslips. I supplied everything but payslips and never got asked again.

  • pjetson on 23/02/2016 - 09:34
    +9

    Provide a copy of your payslip with the amounts redacted. If they ask why you blanked out the amounts, play confused - tell them you thought they just wanted proof of employment. If necessary, explain that you don't think your previous salary is relevant to a new job.

    • Marcsie on 24/02/2016 - 13:25

      So you prepare to take a job with less pay than your previous job ?

  • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2016 - 09:43
    +6

    i spoke with Fair Work Australia (seems like an oxymoron) and they advised it's not illegal to ask for the payslip but at the same time it's not legal, they said it's a really grey area

  • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2016 - 14:04

    Bodgy up a new one in photoshop then convert it to PDF then email it to your self then print it out.
    Yes, they were paying me $500 per hour plus benefits, see I have it in writing.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2016 - 15:02

    I'm just a lay man, but it sounds like to me that perhaps because they are taking over a contract including employees, they are required to match the pay/benefits, the the current contractor you are working for might not be forthcoming with their employee pay details (and that might have something related to them losing the contract).

    If you are happy with your current arrangements and keep the same job, bring your payslips.

    They might be under an obligation to rehire everyone so that the previous employer is not seen as making people redundant.

    There are cases where the employee has been offered a comparable job under a new employer and similar pay/benefits, declined, then could not claim redundancy or unfair dismissal. Likewise if the pay was not up to scratch compared to before, they have claimed.

    If you don't bring in your slips I'm guessing they'll push your old employer to give up the info anyway, and also your old employer is probably operating a sub company P/L for the project which will be wound down

  • starspawn on 24/02/2016 - 15:03

    Your new company after the outsource is asking for your payslip? Doesn't sound right to me, I wouldn't bring it along personally.

  • Geekomatic on 24/02/2016 - 18:56
    +1

    If they asked for it, they expect it if you're applying with them. To say you "forgot" sounds lame & not responsible.

    The fact that you were hoping for more money hasn't changed simply because of the payslip. You hand it over & you let them know you're requesting an increase & tell them why.

    If you can sell it, you'll get it- if not, you'll either accept the same pay or look elsewhere.

    Imho

  • hellothankyou on 13/03/2016 - 22:25

    My partner has gone through this - he was an employee with CompanyA who lost the government contract to CompanyB.

    CompanyB starts interview process, along with planned restructure.
    CompanyA gives redundancy payment to all employees.
    CompanyA leaves.
    CompanyB takes over.
    CompanyB keeps approximately 75% of staff (who got payout from CompanyA anyway). Most roles are at same, or lower pay rate, and with same job description.

    My partner got the redundancy payout + his original job + pay.

    If you were an employee with CompanyA, check that you get a redundancy.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2016 - 08:03

      yeah we got a redundancy made sure of that.

      the new company came in and put everyone on contract, no sick leave, no holiday pay and no company phone.

      needless to say the bulk of us told them to stick it.

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