Is it possible for someone to learn what my salary is at a company if
I do not provide the information myself but give permission for a
"background" check on an employment application?  Is it customary for
a prior employer to verify salary, including bonus' if asked during an
employment verification process (not a credit application) or are they
limited to dates of employment?

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Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 15 May 2003 09:31 PDT

Which jurisdiction (country and state or province) is the company
located in?  Thanks.

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Clarification of Question by gusher-ga on 15 May 2003 11:33 PDT

To mvguy-ga, the company is in Scottsdale, AZ.  Thanks for the reply.

Hi gusher,

I was an employer for 17 years and am very familiar with all aspects
of labor law. Past employers are allowed to give 3 pieces of
imformation when someone enquires about you:

1) Begin and end date of your employment.
2) Salary (including bonuses).
3) Whether (or not) they would rehire you.

They are not allowed to elaborate on your accomplishments or
shortcomings. I'll leave it to someone else to find the supporting
links, but to the best of my knowledge, these are the facts.

--Cynthia

I do not believe Cynthia-ga's statement is correct.  While what she
says may be true in some states, it is not true in all.  Here's an
interesting article on the subject:
http://www.references-etc.com/zipping_the_lips_of_a_former_employer.html

Thanks for the information mvguy, I know the information is correct
for Washington State, ...and may, in fact, not be true for whole US.
I'll keep watching to see.

--Cynthia

mvguy, that's a cool web site! I've had friends call my old employers
before to see what they'd say, but these folks sound very
professional.

--Cynthia

I have found that Arizona law expressly protects former employers who
provide "information concerning a person's education, training,
experience, qualifications and job performance to be used for the
purpose of evaluating the person for employment."  The law, however,
says nothing about salary.  As far as I've been able to find, although
I can't guarantee it so I'm not posting it as an answer, the law is
silent on that issue, so it would be a matter of the employer's policy
and/or any agreement with its employees.
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/23/01361.htm