Dole Blogger: Temp Agency #2

Temp Agency #2

Firstly, I didn't actually select this agency as my number 1 choice, but I'd found some work with an organisation who required me to be registered with one of their approved suppliers in order to get paid, this agency was approved and the one I'd already registered with wasn't, so I called them up, explained I'd already found my own work and I just needed to sign up so I can get paid. Free money for them.

More paper work than the first. AND a document that declared I would allow them to collect private and sensitive data with exceptions under the privacy act. I was very dubious about signing this, particularly when senstive data included such things as my sexual orientation, political views, racial background, etc - unless I'm going for a job where a security clearance is required, how do these factors affect my ability to do the job - or my professionalism? AND why would a temp agency need such information. After firstly requesting a list of exceptions from the privacy act and rolling my eyes at a few items, I signed - I already have the work, so I don't want to make my life more difficult. I was obviously the first person asking for the exceptions which makes me wonder how many people sign the paper without even glancing at it. I was a bit annoyed at this affront to my principals, but left mostly happy.

The staff were exceptionally friendly and pleasant, but the evil document and the lovely workplace agreement, no doubt inspired by our current Government gave me the heebie geebies. Why, I'm not quite sure. I'm heterosexual, a swinging voter (voting on policy not something so silly as party name) and my racial background is English, Welsh and a tad of french if you go back a few generations... all acceptable according to (and I shudder here) the Liberal's platform of "mainstream values" (WHAT THE FSCK DOES THAT MEAN?! - Blantant "ism" if you ask me. The government saying, 'we're going to discriminate against anyone we don't see as mainstream but you the people are probably silly enough to vote for us even though we're blatantly admiting this to you'). Ahem. Sorry. Tangent. Anyway, I think it just offends my principals. And I believe I will submit a document revoking those rights for the future unless a particular assignment requires sensitive information and then I would like disclosure from them that they are collecting such data and why it is necessary for them to collect such information for the purposes of a work contract.

Labels: Career - Job - Work, Employment, Unemployment