Big Brother is Watching You..
Against the Use of Social Network Websites to Evaluate Employees
Geoffrey Hohman CIS1055-07
Headline News◦ Souza Firing
Background Checks◦ 45% of employers screen candidates through social
networking sites◦ Their findings concluded that 53% of these screened
candidates posted inappropriate information and photos
Other Firings◦ Roommate
What is all the fuss about?
A social networking website is a means of displaying personal information online
It helps users connect with others who have shared interests, hobbies, and/or activities
Social Networking WebsitesFacebookMyspaceTwitterLinkedIn
What is a Social Networking Website?
Background Checks Required
◦ Company Policy◦ Contract Clauses
Matching Company and Employee Interests Employee Conduct
◦ Illicit Behavior Unprofessional Immature
◦ Suspected Criminal Intent Employee Performance
Why would an employer check up on these sites for employee
activity?
Invasion of privacy Impediment to our First Amendment rights?
◦ Labor Laws Personal Life vs. Work Life Acquired Maturity
Why this is wrong?
Technically it is not illegal Much information is public Employers have the right to fire an employee without
due process Discrimination
Policies and Contract Clauses Fake Profiles
If this is wrong, how do employers get away with it?
15%
55%
30%
Is it fair for employers to use social network websites in order to evaluate
employees?
YesNoSometimes
Research
Out of 20 Participants
There are several possible methods of change:
Legal ProtectionStricter Profile SettingsEmployers must acquire consent from employeeEmployers must disclose that they actively search your
social networking profiles and pages
What Should Be Done
Until proper legal action can be enforced against this behavior, we must protect ourselves
There are a few different ways to keep the employers at bay
Do not give your employer a reason to fire you
Take some precautionary steps to ensure your job security..
As a precaution…
Take advantage of all security measures presented to you
Facebook Settings
Do not racy comments or any comment in general that might upset your boss
“My boss is an #$&@ing idiot and can go &@$% himself!” = A BIG no-no as a Facebook status
Untag yourself in any photo that presents yourself in a compromising manner
Precautionary Guide
K.I.S.S.
This behavior is just plain wrong It is an unacceptable method of evaluation Employers should evaluate actual job
performance and not Facebook statuses, Tweets, and pictures displaying drunkenness
Something MUST be done before the situation spirals out of hand
Conclusion
Barry, Bruce. "Facebook, freedom and thin-skinned bosses." cnn.com. CNN, 11 Nov 2010. Web. 14 Nov 2010.
<http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/10/barry.facebook.firings/index.html?iref=allsearch>.
"Forty-five Percent of Employers Use Social Networking Sites to Research Job Candidates, CareerBuilder Survey Finds." Careerbuilder.com. Career Builder, n.d. Web. 14 Nov 2010. <http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/
pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=pr519&sd=8/19/2009&ed=12/31/2009>.
Herold, Cathy. "Employers and Social Networking Sites." Suite101.com. Suite101.com, 26 May 2010. Web. 15 Nov 2010. <http://www.suite101.com/content/employers-and- social-networking-sites-a237226>.
"Woman fired over Facebook remarks." msnbc.com. MSNBC, 10 Nov 2010. Web. 15 Nov 2010.
<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40105130>.
References
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