You Have a 'Work Number' on This Site, and You Should Freeze It

There's no such thing as privacy anymore: Whatever you're up to, someone, somewhere has all the details. Even if you take heroic steps to mask your online activity and scrupulously protect your privacy in real-life situations you're still not totally anonymous. We all know that your credit history is pretty easy to access-and is increasingly used in just about every aspect of your life, from getting a job to renting an apartment. If you're paying attention, you probably froze your credit report long ago.

But there's another report that is just as invasive and just as important-and just as necessary to lock down so that it can't be used against you without your knowledge. It's called The Work Number, and you really need to start paying attention to it-and freezing it.

What is The Work Number?

The Work Number is an employment verification" system run by our old friends Equifax, well-known for their careful handling of our private data through the years. Employers send employee data into the system-e.g., your job, your wage or salary details, the dates of your employment, among other details. When you apply for a job somewhere else, that employer can then order a copy of your Employment Data Report (EDR).

Companies send this data to The Work Number because it makes their lives easier: Human Resources (HR) departments are asked to provide work verification on a regular basis (for example, if you're applying for an apartment and your landlord needs to check your employment status). Giving this information to The Work Number automates the process so they don't have to respond manually to every verification request. Plus, they benefit when hiring people because they can quickly and easily verify your resume.

All that seems pretty anodyne-until you consider the other ways your EDR can be used. For example, if you're working extra jobs to make ends meet, one of your employers might use The Work Number to find out-and fire you. A prospective employer can also access your work history when negotiating salary, undermining your leverage. And Equifax absolutely sells this data-or at least some of it-to anyone who wants it, including debt collectors. That means you should take control of your EDR in the same way you take control of your credit report-by freezing it.

How to freeze your EDR

Equifax argues that you shouldn't freeze your EDR because it actually benefits you in the sense that it makes it easy for people to verify your employment history, reducing delays when you're applying for a mortgage or interviewing for a new job. And that's true-but that small bit of convenience doesn't really outweigh the negatives.

The Work Number falls under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) just like your credit reports, so you're entitled to a) get a free copy of it once a year, and b) freeze it-or unfreeze it-at any time, at your discretion. When you freeze your credit report you can unfreeze it when you know you'll be applying for credit. Similarly, you can unfreeze your Work Number any time you know you'll need employment verification.

The process is pretty easy: Go to the official Work Number website and click on Log In." Search for a past employer and check the I'm not a robot" box. Click your employer (if your employer doesn't come up in a search, try a different one). Click Register Now!" and enter your information (note: it requires your Social Security Number).

That's it! You can now access your EDR via the Work Number dashboard-and you should. Review it and make sure it's accurate, just as you would a credit report-and dispute any problems you find. Then go back to the dashboard and select Freeze Your Data." You'll have more forms to fill out, and The Work Number will send you a letter confirming the freeze, along with a PIN you'll need to unfreeze it later. You can also send your request via physical mail, email, or by phone.

Once that's done, anyone seeking to gain access to your employment or wage history will be blocked until you unfreeze everything, ensuring that no one gets that information without your knowledge. It's a minor inconvenience, but at least you'll have a tiny bit more control over your personal information than you did yesterday. After all, your employer or landlord doesn't need to know everything about you.