Vision Credit Education, Inc.

Much of the focus of worsening credit is placed on the challenges that you might meet when applying for a job. However, it is now apparent that many federal employees are facing the axe after years of service. The reason: They are a risk to national security.

Credit Checks for New Applicants

A much higher number of employers now check your credit report prior to extending an offer of employment. They want to make sure that you are free of risky tendencies. Such employer inquiries are recorded on your credit report but do not affect your scores.

First of all, employers want to make sure that you will not experience increased pressure to cheat or steal on the job in order to fix a strained financial situation. Secondly, they argue that having good credit also indicates responsibility in other areas that could include job performance.

Credit Checks for Existing Employees

Most employees figure that once they are hired, it is likely that their employers will not recheck their credit at a later date. They assume that their job performance will speak for itself. For most employees, this is the case. A large percentage of employers rarely recheck their credit after they have been on the job.

However, many jobs that feature access to sensitive private and financial information are increasingly subject to repeat credit checks. At center stage are federal jobs that the government argues may indicate a threat to national security if the employee is in a financial crisis.

Some federal employees have reportedly been on the job for up to 17 years, only to be released due to their bad credit rating. There were reports of five federal employees in and around Columbus, Ohio that were fired due to their credit.

Numerous firings were also reported in the Indianapolis area, providing evidence that the policy is being enforced nationally. Ever since 9/11, the existing policy has gained an even greater focus as government agencies attempt to eliminate opportunities for fraud, theft and release of sensitive government information.