Is it illegal to lie on a job application in Florida?

[morpheus81]

In Florida, is it illegal to lie on a online job application or the subsequent online personal assessment they give?

 

[KatDini]

IF you get the job and the employer finds out you lied, they can fire you.

 

[cbg]

Is it illegal? No. There is no law prohibiting you from lying on an application.

However, it's not protected either. Meaning that if you lie on your application or on the personal assessment and the employer catches you in the lie (which is much, much easier than you might think) you can, quite legally, be fired/placed in the Do Not Hire Ever file. AND prospective employers who call for references can be told why.

FYI, the same applies in all 50 states - it is not limited to Florida.

 

[KatDini]

Would it also not be known as firing with cause, which could cause eligibility problems for unemployment pennies?

 

[cbg]

Yes, it could. I'm not prepared to go out on a limb and say for certain that it WOULD, not without knowing expressly what the poster is considering lying about. But it definitely COULD.

 

[army judge]

In Florida, is it illegal to lie on a online job application or the subsequent online personal assessment they give?

The answer is generally, NO.

But, when applying for SOME government jobs, YES, lying on those applications (or at points of the interview process/hiring process/badging process) can get a person in BIG trouble.


This article explains some of the reasons why or why not:

http://clearancejobsblog.com/lying-on-a-suitability-for-employment-or-application-screening/


https://www.floridabar.org/divcom/jn/jnjournal01.nsf/Author/73FF3463B8F7133B85256ADB005D627D


Wikipedia, for what it might be worth:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Background_check

 

[Betty3]

The bottom line is do not lie or it could cause you many problems you do not want.

 

[morpheus81]

What area of law would this fall under?

 

[shrinkmaster]

What area of law would this fall under?

Answer cbg's question to get better answer

 

[cbg]

Employment law.

However, there doesn't have to be a law that gives an employer permission to fire you for lying on an application. The fact that no law prohibits them from doing so is enough to make it legal.

In case that's what you were wondering.

 

[Betty3]

Just don't lie & you will not have to worry about any consequences.

 

[morpheus81]

I thought the definition of fraud is "knowingly obtaining something by giving false information". Wouldn't a person who gets a job by lying on an application be guilty of criminal fraud?

 

[army judge]

I thought the definition of fraud is "knowingly obtaining something by giving false information". Wouldn't a person who gets a job by lying on an application be guilty of criminal fraud?

Guy meets girl, or girl meets guy. Girl is 22 years old. Guy is 22 years old. They chat. Guy says he loves girl. Or, girl says she loves guy.
Girl is married. Guy is married. Girl and guy engage in seven days of nonstop, consensual sex.
Guy never loved girl. Guy just wanted sexy with girl.
Girl never loved guy. Girl just wanted sexy with guy.
Using your definition, did either person defraud the other to deflower them sexually?
Most lies aren't illegal, hence not actionable under the law (criminal or civil).

 

[morpheus81]

Isn't lying on a job application obtaining money by using false information? and isn't that fraud? and isn't fraud a criminal offense federally and in florida?

 

[cbg]

Okay, so who lied on a job application that you want to get into trouble?

 

[army judge]

Isn't lying on a job application obtaining money by using false information? and isn't that fraud? and isn't fraud a criminal offense federally and in florida?

Lying on government employment applications are generally treated as perjury or falsifying government records.

Lying to get that sweet job at Hot Diggity Doggity Haven, might get you fired.
But, you could be fired because you dropped a goat dog on the floor, or because you're too ugly to represent Hot Diggity Doggity Haven.
All the employer need say is, "You're terminated. Now get!"
No reason is needed to fire you.

Besides, if the employer does due diligence, you won't get hired. Therefore, no termination would be necessary.

If you are hired, work 40 hours, you get paid for those 40 hours. Most employers for lower level jobs just want a mule. If you're a thoroughbred racehorse, that's where employers worry. Bottom line, due diligence and proper vetting will catch the lies and the liar!

 

[txls]

I think you're really reaching to call it fraud or illegal. Now let's say a convicted sex criminal is restricted from working at a daycare for example. He lies on his application, and gets the job then you have a violation. Another scenario, a convicted thief applies for a job at a bank and lies on his application. He's done his time and has no legal restrictions as far as where he can work. He get's the job, and he steals. The illegal part is the stealing, not the lying.

 

[Betty3]

Do you have a specific situation you are concerned about?