Bill Gates: job interview asked about nudes – 06/29/2023 – Market

Some women interviewed to work in the office of Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, reported that they were asked explicitly about their sex lives by the security company responsible for the selection, reported the Wall Street Journal on Thursday (29).

According to the newspaper, the questions were related to sexual history, drug use, pornography consumption, whether they had any nudes on their cell phones, history of STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases), extramarital affairs or any other information that could indicate a propensity for blackmail, candidates and people familiar with the process report in the article.

The security consulting firm Concentric Advisors is responsible for conducting the selection process, assessing the risk level of those who will work in close contact with Bill Gates, says the report, based on information from people familiar with the hiring process. .

The company is described as a risk management agency made up of employees who worked in the CIA and FBI. Among its services, Concentric offers background checks on potential job candidates to reduce the risk it may pose to the contractor.

Gates employees informally told applicants that a “former CIA agent” would look into medical, drug and sexual information, the report said.

Bill Gates’ spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal that his office, Gates Ventures, is not aware of inquiries of this nature being asked by companies providing this service. Concentric said to the report that its protocols are in accordance with the laws applicable to the services offered.

Mike LeFever, CEO of Concentric, told the newspaper that the company provides industry-standard screening services and interviews that follow an identical protocol for all genders and in accordance with the labor laws of the United States and each American state. .

Asked by the Wall Street Journal how questions related to sexual and medical history would comply with the law, the spokesperson denied that the company asks such questions and that the candidate can voluntarily provide such data when asked about his history.

Candidates to work in Gates’ office heard by the report contest Concentric’s version and claim that they were asked about the information and did not volunteer to provide it. They also say that the vacancy in question depended on the approval of the risk assessment.

A consent form acquired by the Wall Street Journal that the interview conducted by Concentric would be used by Gates’ office to “assess fitness for work” and would include information about drug and alcohol use, as well as medical and psychiatric history.

The document requires the candidate’s signature and allows the release of the evaluation results to Gates’ office, including “highly confidential information”.

A Concentric spokesperson told the WSJ that the company does not provide hiring recommendations during security assessments, and that its purpose is only to ensure sincerity and vulnerability to blackmail, information that begins with voluntary testimonials as the candidate responds to the questionnaire. of the company responsible for the assessment.

Employment lawyers interviewed by the American newspaper said that questioning about medical and psychiatric history is illegal, even in a security review for a private office. Even if there is a consent form signed by the candidate, this type of questionnaire is not legally valid and may conflict with labor discrimination laws, they said.

Gates’ spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal report that Gates Ventures conducts a careful hiring process and works with risk assessment firms that follow industry standards for all genders and operate in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. federal and state regulations.