Social Networking sites are coming under a new kind of scrutiny. This time future employers and current employers are looking at them. Employers are starting to take a look at Facebook and Myspace; they are looking at these sites when they are evaluating employees and potential employees. One of the arguments for the ability to look at social networking, is that they are comparing it to a background check, as long as they give the employee a a chance to explain themselves. Opponents of this new development say that the photos, the comments, and the other information cannot be verified as true. It also gives employers photos of the employee which can open the door to discrimination. So as of right now it is still a controversy. In my own personal opinion I do not feel that they should be used, an employee's personal life should not be up for discussion unless it affects the job.
What do you think? Should employers be allowed to look at your social networks when evaluating you?
http://www. associatedcontent.com/article/61351/social_networking_can_be_perilous_to.html?cat=31
http://www.ctemploymentlawblog.com/2008/09/articles/hr-issues/using-social-networking-sites-for-employment-screening-is-there-a-right-answer/
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ReplyDeleteAccording to wisegeek.com “Background checks reveal information about an individual's professional, financial, criminal, and public history. They include everything from speeding tickets to time spent in jail, bankruptcy to employment history”. It does not say a background check is looking for old pictures of a person and what a persons Facebook status is. Employers should not be able to use a social network for employing a person. These are networks used to express you and your feelings. There is a new survey out, 10 percent of admissions officers from prestigious schools said they had peeked at sites like Facebook and MySpace to evaluate college-bound seniors. Of those using the profiles, 38 percent said it had a “negative impact” on the applicant, according to archives.chicagotribune.com. Not getting into college because of a picture or a post. The only thing I have to say on the employers and universities side of this is if you don’t want people to see it don’t put it on the internet.
ReplyDeleteAs for my opinion, I think that social network content is fair game in any job consideration. As soon as personal information is posted to a public site, it is fair game for anyone to evaluate. If evidence on a social networking site is incriminating enough for employers and colleges to reconsider acceptance, it probably should never be available in the first place. Employers seek all possible information in evaluating candidates; if these individuals voluntarily make their information available, then they must consider the associated consequences.
ReplyDeleteAlthough social network content may be personal to someone, it is open to the entire world. Since your personal comments, photos, videos, etc. are open to the entire world, jobs that someone applies for should be able to view these social networks of its applicants. Photos of an employer's applicants should be viewed to see how applicants really act outside of work. It could show employers whether or not applicants are mature enough for the job or whether their actions outside of work will affect their jobs.
ReplyDeleteI think with most of these sites there is a way to block people from viewing your page unless permitted. So if you are against employees checking out your Myspace of Facebook, why not put up some security? I am not for employers looking into a person’s private life. Most people do like to have a little separation from his or her work life and private life. I don’t understand how employers looking at these sites can’t lead to some form of discrimination. What kind of information could they possibly want to find out from someone’s Facebook? What a person’s favorite movie is? The only good news I read was the employee has a chance to defend his or herself. Why not stick to judging a potential employee by a resume and interview.
ReplyDeleteJust recently, (March 30, 2009) an Indiana State Trooper, Chris Pestow, working out of the Pendleton post was suspended and had his badge and gun taken away because of the content of his Facebook. There was a whole news story on Channel 13 News and can be found on http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?s=10066071. There are some pictures of his friend from the IMPD pointing a .357 Magnum to his head. He also lists his job as a garbage collector because he picks up trash for a living. There is also a lot of references to drinking in his words and pictures. Personally, I think it is ridiculous they are making a big deal over this, but the pictures with the Magnum should not have been posted. Honestly, I think Channel 13 News just wanted to find something to complain about. A lot of cops are cocky about their jobs. However, the trooper should have censored his Facebook better as the State Police are held to a higher standard. Because of new technology such as Facebook and Myspace, “ISP is currently in the process of drafting a Standard Operating Procedure for all department staff regarding posting information on personal web pages such as Facebook.”
ReplyDeleteI feel that employers should not look to individuals facebook and myspace because as stated above everyone needs seperation from work and their personal life. As long as individuals dont display things breaking the law I feel an employer should have no right judging an individual on what they do on their personal time. For example, an employee was recently fired from an NFL team for calling the team stupid for trading a player. http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfceast/0-8-229/The-Eagles-release-another--part-time--employee.html. This wasnt a very professional move by this individual, but it something every Eagle fan would agree with so why should he be fired?
ReplyDelete-Todd L.
My opinion is that employers should run criminal background checks, instead of checking a potential employees facebook. I realized that this is really is not as big of a concern i thought it was. According to a survey on CareerBuilder, only 22 percent of employers check facebook profiles. Even if this 22 percent seems high, people should not be worried about this anyways. An easy way to take care of the problem would be to set privacy settings on your social networking site. An important thing someone can do to protect their privacy can do is be careful of what they put on these sites.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.businessinsider.com/2008/9/22-of-employers-check-your-facebook-profile-when-they-re-looking-to-hire-you-that-s-it-
Todd's post is one of the reasons I chose this topic. I feel that it is completely ridiculous that a person could be fired for voicing their opinion. What will there be next, would it be illegal to think bad thoughts or even negative thoughts about anything. I will continue to say how people are taking things WAY to serious. People are calling the cops on others for saying nonsense, or even having a status that is negative about another. I went to finish this post by saying that I feel that certain aspects of my classes are kind of ridiculous. Go ahead kick me out for having an opinion,
ReplyDelete