An applicant’s employment status is not privileged or confidential, and an employer should be willing to verify employment without a release. Nevertheless, it may be beneficial to include consent to its release in the application process. Wage and benefit information and information concerning prospects for continued employment may be more sensitive because of the effect the release of such information might have among the employer’s other employees or the employer’s competitors. The employer probably should be advised that the employee already has given the wage information and should only be asked for confirmation.