can you get fired from a job if you do not want to give your social security # for clearance to another site?

Question

we have a huge project that was given to us, now the agency needs ss# from the drivers whom are delivering the merchandise for clearance. My driver refuse to give his ss# because he says its personal and he is afraid of identity theft can we fire him because of this.....? also can the employee file a suit with the dept of labor because he was fired

we work with sub-contractors who sometimes require us to give them our driver's and helper's ss# for clearance to enter the premises. now if the employee does not want us as thier employer to release this info becausefear of identity theft can we fire them and can they file a suit against us.

and yes we already have his ss# on file we just wanted to notify him that we would have to give it to the agency we have the current contract with.

Answer 1

Frankly I still don't understand why you have to have SS# to begin with to ANY Agency. The driver's license should be enough and I can certainly understand your employees apprehensiveness due to thousands of identity theft for not wanting to give out his SS#. The SS# Is already on file because of employment...so why should he have to provide it to an agency?
And yes, he can file a suit w/ the dept of labor because of his termination. Doesn't mean anything will come of it that much I don't know. But they will be the one to decide if there's a case and they'll probably also wonder why his SS# even needed to be involved.
One thing to keep in mind...why do you think so many folks kept their SS# OFF their driver's license? No one needs to know that info except for the employer.
Good luck

Answer 2

As his employer, you should already have the information in hand that the agency is requiring. You should have not involved the drivers and handled the Security clearance between you and the Agency. But since he is fired for information you already had in your posession, then none of it makes sense.