Corporate Shaft

Take a second to think of a dream job, an occupation that seems hardly like work and more like play. Picture the ideal setting for a dream. Imagine being at work, performing duties and getting satisfaction from a job well done. Consider waking up on a daily basis, anxiously waiting to go at the day. A smile is ever present during work because the job is ecstasy.
My name is Sean Short. I am a 23 year old who currently resides in Breckenridge, Colorado. I am a certified ski instructor with passions for skiing and helping people learn how to ski. During the summer of 2008 I partook in an extensive six week ski instructor training course with the intention to apply at a ski resort in Colorado. Being familiar with the ski areas in Summit County, Colorado, I applied for a job with the Ski and Ride School at Keystone Resort. I had heard many good things about Keystone's instructors as well as the phenomenal skiing at that mountain; this was a motivating factor in my decision. With this in mind, I applied for a position, online, with Vail Resorts, the parent company of Keystone.
In order to apply one must get on the World Wide Web and go to Vail Resorts hiring page appropriately called www.skijob1.com. On this site you can search for available positions within Vail Resorts. I submitted my application at the end of August 2008 and followed up a couple weeks later. I was contacted by a Keystone hiring manager and given an initial interview. The interview consisted of a few basic screening questions, "why do you want to work here" questions and an informal verbal assessment of a person's criminal background. I answered these questions truthfully and to the best of my knowledge, revealing that I have had legal trouble in my past but I have made amends and I am rectifying my situation. I was told by this hiring manager that I need not worry about my past and I was reassured of this by receiving information and paperwork pertaining to my employment with Vail Resorts as well as a date, time and location for new hire training. I received an intent for employment letter, I-9 documentation, W-4 form, employee pass form, direct deposit form and a background check website via email from the same hiring manager that conducted my interview. These documents were sent out with the hope to expedite the hiring process. I proceeded to fill out all forms so that I could have hard copies on the first day of training. I also filled out the required background check provided to me by the website.
Vail Resorts uses a third party company to perform its background checks by the name of Verified Credentials. On this site you answer a series of questions by filling out the text fields and finally marking it with an electronic signature. This background check is to be completed prior to arrival on the first day of new hire training.
Upon receiving this hiring packet of information, I started to make plans to move to Summit County from my home in Greeley, Co. The plan became this: My brother, who recently got hired as a lift attendant at the Breckenridge Ski Resort, and I would live in a four season RV in Breckenridge, Co at a place called Tiger Run RV Resort. WE chose this location because the cost of living and renting in Summit County, as with many ski resort areas, is extremely high. The rent was affordable to use based on what we would be earning at our respected jobs. In order to get an affordable rate we chose to enter a three month lease with Tiger Run.
I started my employment on November 13th, 2008 with Keystone this was the first day of training. The first day is basically a day of paperwork for the human Resources department in which I brought my filled out forms, ID and my personality. While filling out paperwork applicants are told by HR reps that if the background check isn't complete the hiring process would be halted. Well, I finished my paperwork and was set up to continue my new hire training as a ski instructor with the Keystone Ski and Ride School. I completed my five mandatory days of training and received my work uniform along with my employee ID. I was very excited to be working, donned my uniform on November 24th and taught my first official lesson as a Keystone Ski and Ride School instructor.
On November 27th, Thanksgiving, I showed up to work like I have become accustomed to. I waited for a work assignment that morning, anxiously hoping to teach my second lesson. My fellow instructors were given assignments and a few of us were left without work. I learned this is very typical in that industry, and was willing to do whatever I could for work. At that moment I was not worried until my supervisor pulled me aside and told me this, "Hate to have to do this to you Sean, but HR red-flagged you and I must send you home". I was very confused and hurt. So I went home like instructed. I contacted HR that day and was told that an issue with my background check has arisen and I was temporarily unable to work.
The next day I personally visited HR and wanted to know what was going on. I waited around for five minutes and instead of being seen by any HR personnel I was handed an envelope with my name on it, and told to read the contents. Inside contained a letter stating my termination is based on the fact I no longer meet the hiring criteria. Also enclosed was a printout of my background check from Verified Credentials.
I must say that my past is tainted, but it is my past. The items I have on my record came to be because of a drinking problem, a problem that altered who I was. I live everyday with my mistakes and I am remorseful. My crimes were never heinous nor cruel, but none the less I broke the law. The justice system is designed for a person to make amends so that they can continue to be a functioning member of society. This being said, my last transgression was over 19 months ago. From that time on I have stayed out of trouble, grew to become responsible and maintained sobriety since September, 2007. I believe I have become a better person who desires to help others and make the community I live in a better place.
I contacted Human Resources over the phone and it then became clear to me what was going on. HR told me that they are exercising their right to no longer consider me for an employment opportunity based on my background check from Verified Credentials. They also told me that I am a liability to any guest service operation because I will somehow not be trusted with a guest. Should I want to try again in two years, I would be further considered for a position. I explained that I did the background check over a month before, but was told I must be mistaken. I pled my case and explained my situation that I am a changed person, I pay my debts to the community and need an opportunity to show that I am who I say I am. But alas, no luck. I was told good luck and wished the best.
A company should verify that a background check is completed before allowing anybody to attend training. Vail Resorts requires a background check to be completed prior to employment. If the background check is not done, the hiring process is put on hiatus until completion. If a company follows this procedure it is in their best interest to avoid potential liability. Alternatively, a business that does not abide by those guidelines inherits potential risk. For example, a company hires a woman without a proper background check and has entrusted this woman to be responsible with money and credit information. The woman goes through a week at work before a problem arises. All of the sudden, large amounts of money are missing and phone calls are received claiming identities have been thieved. This woman is missing and cannot be located. A file arrives on a desk with information stating that the woman was convicted of fraud and theft, but it's too late, the damage has been done and the woman is nowhere to be found. Had a background check been done in a timely manner the company simply could have "We do not wish to hire you at this time" thus saving any potential drama. A company that is worried about their guest's safety may become liable when they do follow their own policies.
I understand Keystone's position regarding hiring criteria and do not take offense to their stance. What I have issue with is Keystone's hiring process and conduct. I believe I was patronized by HR during my investigative phone call. I was spoken to in a condescending and belittling manner, a tone that I believe is not suitable for a HR representative of any company, let alone Vail Resorts. I feel that I was wronged initially by the prospect of employment. I was under the impression that my background was cleared before I was to even attend one day of training. I made an assumption based on the belief I would be contacted had I not met the criterion. Because I assumed that a company would verify that information prior to an applicant's arrival, I went through with my plans to secure residence in Breckenridge. I signed a lease with Tiger Run, and gave them monies owed for the first month which included security deposits and rent.
Now I am jobless and in dire straits because of someone’s inability to file documentation properly. I was teased with the prospect of a great job and great pay, only to be stripped of my dignity by a company that claims to provide outstanding service and promote equal opportunities for their employees. A company, that says it hires based on personality, ultimately decides on criteria written down in ink without ever personally interviewing an applicant.