Should Employers Screen Applicants for Problem Gambling Before Employment?

[robelneo]

I am becoming increasing concerned with the extent some employees with gambling addiction go to satisfy their addiction. That is, some of these employees go as far as defrauding, and stealing from their employers and go ahead to gamble with the money. Some time ago, a close buddy of mine narrated how he caught his colleague adjusting the sales records after removing some cash. After he confronted him, the colleague confessed that he usually use the money for betting. Below are several similar cases.

It's companies' privilege and prerogative it's not that they are discriminating against their applicants but employers can justify this by telling people that it's for the protection of the company, some companies have contracts that their employers should not be involved in specific activities while they are employed and this is legal to protect their company and their status in the industry, it's not only gambling but on many activities that are related to your company policy, employees are part of company values you can't separate it as long as you are employed and under contract.

[TimeTeller]

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.

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.

Depends on certain conditions because if a person have bad habits which could lead to destruct something or create something bad ambience to your company then I think its the right for some employer to include this as their selections. Would not hire rather if a person have certain condition because its hard to trust those kind of people especially if they are addicted to much on gambling because we know they are capable to do bad things just to gamble.

Unfortunately, some won't disclose their gambling habits during their application.
And who would have done so? So sometimes, even the company will screen their applicants, it won't show yet.
But they will observe the effect of gambling while the employee is already working inside the company.
They can either give a warning or just terminate the employee, if they will see possible issues coming up.

[adzino]

I don't think employers are able to screen for gambling problems. How would they be able to do that? Waste of time and resources for them. It is not like someone steals money from the company everyday to feed their gambling addiction. They can't screen their employees, but I am pretty much sure that if they somehow gets to know about their gambling problem (even if they don't steal money from the company), they will get into trouble and likely lose their job.

[Alisha-k]

 I'd like to say that what I do in my personal time is my business and should an employer ask that, it's not something that she be worried about, just answer. Although just like every employer, their major concern is to know if you truly can handle the task, if you discipline enough to abide by rules. It's just that most gamblers find it difficult to keep inside that need to gamble the moment they are faced with money..
 I think some employers would only screen the potential employee for a gambling problem only if they've had such a prior experience with past workers

[Quidat]

I don't think employers are able to screen for gambling problems. How would they be able to do that? Waste of time and resources for them. It is not like someone steals money from the company everyday to feed their gambling addiction. They can't screen their employees, but I am pretty much sure that if they somehow gets to know about their gambling problem (even if they don't steal money from the company), they will get into trouble and likely lose their job.

Totally a waste of time because you cant know if those applicants would be telling the truth or not once you do ask them for some personal things like hobbies or any activities that they are involved with.
The way on where people could be  caught up on doing gambling activities is on the time that they've been already get hired and then doing all of those things which there's someone could
make out some report but knowing previous or things in life before getting the job is impossible.Everything could really be denied if they wanted to.

[virasog]

I'd like to know your thoughts -  Do you think that employers should screen potential employees for problem gambling before employment?

The issue here is that there is no way to confirm if the employees are gambling addicts or not. Since there is no need to register officially at the gambling site and gambling sites do not share the KYC details, the employees can very easily get this screening bypassed by hiding the fact that they are gambling addicts.
Yes, once they are hired, then people can get to know more about them, their habits, etc but it is difficult to find out whether a person is a gambling addict or not, before the hiring.

[_act_]

I don't think employers are able to screen for gambling problems. How would they be able to do that? Waste of time and resources for them. It is not like someone steals money from the company everyday to feed their gambling addiction. They can't screen their employees, but I am pretty much sure that if they somehow gets to know about their gambling problem (even if they don't steal money from the company), they will get into trouble and likely lose their job.

That is what would likely happen, but if I know about my worker that is addicted to gambling, I will indirectly advice him, the best to do is to sake him, but I won't, I would more focus in making sure the inflow and outflow of money is well supervised in a way he would know that I could know as fast as possible if anyone make some manipulations. What I would be more concerned about is if the employee is productive and hardworking. Not only gambling addicts can scam you because of money problem they are having, there are other reasons people can scam you.

[Cookdata]

This is not a new phenomenon, but did you know that workers sometimes steal not to gamble, but because it is a part of them, and they are recognized to be kleptomaniacs.
Is there any privacy you preserve if you work for a corporation that requests your data and credentials? You've given them virtually your whole career as a curriculum vitae, including your school qualifications. If that guarantees a job, I don't see why you shouldn't take a gambling test as long as it doesn't contradict any of your beliefs.

[maydna]

I'd like to know your thoughts -  Do you think that employers should screen potential employees for problem gambling before employment?

The issue here is that there is no way to confirm if the employees are gambling addicts or not. Since there is no need to register officially at the gambling site and gambling sites do not share the KYC details, the employees can very easily get this screening bypassed by hiding the fact that they are gambling addicts.
Yes, once they are hired, then people can get to know more about them, their habits, etc but it is difficult to find out whether a person is a gambling addict or not, before the hiring.

Maybe the company will know more about its employees when they have been working for the company for a while because usually once a month or every few months, there will be free time for all employees to enjoy a family atmosphere. From there, each employee can chat freely without having to discuss work, and that's where they can find out what each worker's hobbies are. But if they were in the same division, they would probably know each other faster because there would be chats about various things, including personal matters.

[Fredomago]

I don't think employers are able to screen for gambling problems. How would they be able to do that? Waste of time and resources for them. It is not like someone steals money from the company everyday to feed their gambling addiction. They can't screen their employees, but I am pretty much sure that if they somehow gets to know about their gambling problem (even if they don't steal money from the company), they will get into trouble and likely lose their job.

Totally a waste of time because you cant know if those applicants would be telling the truth or not once you do ask them for some personal things like hobbies or any activities that they are involved with.
The way on where people could be  caught up on doing gambling activities is on the time that they've been already get hired and then doing all of those things which there's someone could
make out some report but knowing previous or things in life before getting the job is impossible.Everything could really be denied if they wanted to.

I believe you, there no way an applicant will disclose this kind of information knowing that he will not be getting the position once the hiring officers know his gambling background, they will surely denied things and the only way that it can be revealed is when problem start to show up, but if there's nothing that will affect the employee's job role there's nothing that the company should held them responsibility.

It's their life, and it's outside the business, unless, again, if there's any effect with the job and the company.

Employers can quickly terminate the employee, it's part of their right when proven that there's a problem with the person involve.