This happens a lot: I apply for a job and they ask for my complete address. Why? I would understand if they just want to know what city/town I’m in: That has bearing on how easily I can get to the office.

But why do they need to know my street address?

The only thing I can think: Indeed/LinkedIn/take-your-pick is building a profile of me based on this info, using my street as a proxy for my income, credit score, or, ultimately, for my social class.

From now on, when they ask me, I’m just going to put a rich person’s address. For this one I used a Brooklyn townhouse where Maggie Gyllenhaal and one of the Saarsgaards lives.

  • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    81
    arrow-down
    10
    ·
    4 months ago

    Racism. They never have to ask if you’re black but if you live in a predominantly black neighborhood they can decline to hire you without running afoul of anti-discrimination laws.

    You’d be surprised how many things in America are just racism wearing a wig.

    • cerement@slrpnk.net
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      33
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      4 months ago

      also known as redlining – nominally illegal but almost impossible to enforce (assuming anyone in authority even tries to enforce) …

    • Nastybutler@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      4 months ago

      That can be determined by Zip Code alone. Exact address isn’t needed to determine which neighborhood an applicant is from in most major cities

      • Mirshe@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        4 months ago

        True, but asking for your ZIP code feels more nebulous and undefined as to WHY. Asking for your full address is “oh, I guess so they can mail me things if they need to” for most applicants, so it gets looked past a lot easier. One of the few times where specificity wins out.