In recent news, employment privacy issues have come up due to the breach of potential employers asking for passwords of applicants’ social media websites. It has become common in an interview to be asked of your Facebook login. For years, employers have used background checks and now credit checks as an employee screening tool. As social media has become such an integral part of our daily life, employers are searching the internet for information on applicants as a means of protecting themselves.
Now, what do you do if you have a Facebook profile and are asked for your password? If you are concerned this might happen to you, I would take a look at what you have posted from an outside point of view and screen your profile for things that might potentially harm your chances of getting hired or be potentially embarrassing to family or friends. An alternative method, if you haven’t done so, is to create a LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is the largest professional network to connect with peers in your field. I would suggest to the potential employer to take a look at this profile instead.
This topic has also reached U. S. legislation. Last month, Maryland became the first state to sign into law forbidding companies from asking their employees and or applicants to reveal their social media or communication websites passwords. Not far behind Maryland are Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, and California working on similar bills. The underlying issues addressed in these bills are the right to privacy for personal communications in the workplace. For more information on this hot topic in Washington, D.C. check out the ACLU’s website to see what is being discussed.
Here are some more facts and tips about employment privacy and social networking to help protect yourself and or your company. What are your procedures for social media and the hiring process?
If you are a company looking to better your staffing solutions and employee screening, contact Extra Help today, so we can help you create a better employment process.
