I just returned to the workforce after being a stay at home parent for 7 years. This new employer is... questionable. For context it is a preschool/daycare serving around 60 children ages 0-5.
1) They make you sign the employee handbook that states if you quit or are fired without 2 weeks notice, you will be paid minimum wage on the prior 2 weeks, even to the extent of owing them already paid money.
2) they make you sign a non-compete for 1 full year after leaving the childcare facility that includes working with any families who have been part of the facility. Our school district is the single largest employer within 50 miles of my home, so that poses a real issue.
3) they are having me pay out of pocket for things like mandatory trainings (done off the clock), background checks, CPR/First aid, and a mandatory food handlers permit.
4) this is the one that inspired the post: they sent me home with 3 separate paper packets to give to references and return (never mind that I moved from 3000 miles away in recent years). The questions seem bizarre. They ask if I have any physical or mental disabilities and if I've had problems with domestic violence, among other things. (I'll try to add a pic to the comments)
It is annoying and feels almost illegal. Is this the new normal in the last decade? or are these guys effing crazy?