Employer background check on facebook...

[Leros]

I hope you're kidding...

Not at all. Why would I want to work at a company like that? Every place I've worked so far has treated their employees with utmost respect. Why should I accept anything less from a new employer?

 

[Corporate Thug]

Since when are your medical records public?

meant to say private.

 

[Cuda1447]

Not at all. Why would I want to work at a company like that? Every place I've worked so far has treated their employees with utmost respect. Why should I accept anything less from a new employer?

To play devils advocate...

To a lot of people there aren't many options for employment, so they are grateful for what they have.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Not at all. Why would I want to work at a company like that? Every place I've worked so far has treated their employees with utmost respect. Why should I accept anything less from a new employer?

I guess that comes down to whether you find this disrespectful. Many companies have somewhat arbitrary policies (i.e. no long hair, not tats, no piercings, etc.) because they want to uphold a certain image. Some people may take that as a curbing of 1st amendment rights...I don't.

 

[highland145]

I guess that comes down to whether you find this disrespectful. Many companies have somewhat arbitrary policies (i.e. no long hair, not tats, no piercings, etc.) because they want to uphold a certain image. Some people may take that as a curbing of 1st amendment rights...I don't.

If someone is going to put their personal lives on the internet how could they even have an expectation privacy? Trusting FB with their little secrets? Not so bright, imo.

No offense to the wife, Cuda.

 

[bobdole369]

Not at all. Why would I want to work at a company like that? Every place I've worked so far has treated their employees with utmost respect. Why should I accept anything less from a new employer?

Same here. There is only so much intrusion I will put up with. I quit a job on principle when they random drug tested everybody. Not that I had anything to hide, I just don't think any company has any business sampling urine. It doesn't find drug users and problem employees who do drugs will fuck up other ways and its just a matter of time. Career drug abusers will find a way around. I found another job within a week making more money and that company never would consider doing that.

To a lot of people there aren't many options for employment, so they are grateful for what they have.

This, while true, doesn't give any employer the right to abuse its monopoly. Though abuse it they will.

 

[Macamus Prime]

I know it's fun/easy/popular to hate on social networks right now, but let's have a moment of honesty. There are plenty of legitimate, quality reasons to use one. I'll give you mine.

But, if I don't hate on social networks,... what ELSE will I bash on my hourly Youtube show? Because, that's how extreme my crusade against social networks is. I even follow around Mark Zuckerberg and scream on the top of my lungs at him.

Also, at night,... I carve "Dislike" into my forearms with a rusty knife,....

1. I keep in touch with a lot of former co-workers/friends through daily chit-chat.
2. My fantasy football leagues have groups on facebook for good shit-talking
3. I have a group with close friends/family where we can post funny shit we find on the internet, its a source of entertainment, just like anandtech.

Now, do I agree with the idiots who post "going to work" on their stream or post have naked shots of themselves? No. But just because a ton of dumbasses use social networks for the wrong purpose, doesn't mean there aren't people who have legitimate quality reasons to use it.

Cold medicine is used for legitimate reasons as well.

A few years ago, a bunch of druggies came up with a way to make X out of it (or something, I don't remember exactly). Now, there are rules and regulations on how much and to whom you sell cold medicine to.

Also, meth can be made with ingredients you can buy from any medical supply company. Since the emergence of the drug, there are tighter regulations on who can buy what, when and for why.

Human weakness ruins MANY good things. A good portion of the people on FB (not all) are assholes. Attention seeking assholes (vanity).

Not you. Not people who have reasons just as you have stated. But, the pricks that post pictures of their tied up children. The girl who posts spread eagle shots of herself. The guy who posts pictures of him fingering a passed out girl at a party. And all of these are examples that are in the news, gossip sites and forums.

And, what is the ultimate benefit? You think the Mark Zuckerbergs of social networking did it to ensure you keep in touch with the people you love and enjoy being in your life? Nope - it's to harvest your information, identity and activity,... and sell it.

It doesn't make ANY sense to support and host such a huge success for free - the Marks have to make money. And, people wouldn't really pay for "it" (but, they seem to be gorging on facebook video game micro transactions,...). But, FB thrives on pretty much the ugly part of humanity - again, vanity.

I agree with you that there are legitimate reasons for you to take part in social networking. So, go ahead and dismiss my ramblings - but, the reality is this; you are now public. And, you are not free. You are bought and sold by the people who own the social network platform. Further more, you are held accountable by employers, family, friends and strangers on your image.

Your image is clearly clean and legit. But, just as the OP has stated, having being checked on by a prospective employer does make it feel like it's bullshit.

More power to you and whoever has found the good in social networking. And, place aside the being "bought and sold" point - but, you still have to realize that the rotten dirt bags who have done bad things on social network sites, have caused another layer of approval that is now required by prospective employers. Your intentions and actions of doing normal things on social networks now has to be reviewed and approved, because someone posted pictures of their junk on FB at 2am.

 

[slayer202]

I guess that comes down to whether you find this disrespectful. Many companies have somewhat arbitrary policies (i.e. no long hair, not tats, no piercings, etc.) because they want to uphold a certain image. Some people may take that as a curbing of 1st amendment rights...I don't.

Of course it is curbing rights. However, it is by choice. Employers should be allowed to discriminate against things like that, it's their business. But by agreeing to work there, you are agreeing to give up some of your basic human freedoms.

 

[xanis]

I fail to see any issue here. The employer sets the conditions for hiring and wants to get a better picture of the person that they're hiring; if you don't like it, you're free to look for another job.

 

[BurnItDwn]

What I do in my personal time when I am not representing the company is my business, and my business only. As long as I'm not doing illegal things, it's not their business to know unless I want them to. Most companies respect that. I think what thou county government is doing in this case crosses a line that should not be crossed.

 

[Cuda1447]

If someone is going to put their personal lives on the internet how could they even have an expectation privacy? Trusting FB with their little secrets? Not so bright, imo.

No offense to the wife, Cuda.

None taken, as I said she doesn't have anything to hide really. For me it's just a principle thing. This is the first time I've heard of anything like this and it gave me a major 'wtf' moment.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Since we're on the subject of FB :
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=1893378

 

[waggy]

put people in private groups. I have one that is just for family. my public page is rather tame.

Saying that it is bullshit. i would make a fake page and give them access to that.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Of course it is curbing rights. However, it is by choice. Employers should be allowed to discriminate against things like that, it's their business. But by agreeing to work there, you are agreeing to give up some of your basic human freedoms.

let me rephrase: I don't find it to be curbing of rights when you can elect not to comply and look for another job. Patriot Act, or some law along those lines, would be a curbing because you do not choose if you want to comply or not.

 

[Rage187]

What I do in my personal time when I am not representing the company is my business, and my business only. As long as I'm not doing illegal things, it's not their business to know unless I want them to. Most companies respect that. I think what thou county government is doing in this case crosses a line that should not be crossed.

you are under the impression that people only update their profiles from home. 50% is likely done during the work day.

I've never done FB though and this gives me another excuse when someone asks why I'm not on FB.

 

[alkemyst]

She played her move wrong already.

She should've said she has no FB. If they ask, "Isn't that you?" You simply say no, someone else with same name.

They have like 12 matches of my name.

Most have their picture up, if you don't why not?

 

[alkemyst]

If someone is going to put their personal lives on the internet how could they even have an expectation privacy? Trusting FB with their little secrets? Not so bright, imo.

No offense to the wife, Cuda.

That's sort of where you are wrong since just about all data exists on the internet.

Public records have a disclaimer about re-transmission of the data and sharing of other's information. While anyone can view it, it's against the rules to do so and then post it elsewhere.

People are generally so unethical though they have no grasp on this.

 

[Gillbot]

You're not serious, are you? In the vast majority of cases, it's not hard to know with at least 95% certainty that you have the right person. Facebook is designed that way - so people can find each other easily.


That's the best advice posted in this thread. Every couple weeks, someone comes crawling up to the moderators, begging us to delete their account because they're applying for a job & a quick look online connects their real name to the username they use, and they posted stuff when they were immature, drunk, whatever, that they don't want an employer to see.

Don't want a potential employer to see it? Then don't post it, period.

Yep, there's nothing on my facebook that I would care if my boss sees. Hell, I'm friends with a couple of my bosses on there anyway.

 

[Zeze]

Most have their picture up, if you don't why not?

Because you told them you don't have FB to begin with?

 

[Nemesis 1]

So my wife just got hired for a new job with the county government. They did the usual, drug test, polygraph, psych evaluation etc... Honestly, they did a lot of stuff and I was a bit surprised. A few days ago she got a facebook request from 'county' sherrifs office. She told me and I told her to reject that shit, she doesn't need to be friends with her future employer on Facebook.

Today she got a call from them telling her she needs to accept the friend request because that's part of their background check. She doesn't have anything to hide so she is going to do it, but I personally think that's some total fucking bullshit. I don't think an employer has any right to make you become friends with them on Facebook so they can check you out further.

Am I overreacting or is this some bullshit?

Cring out load . SO she did it . She took the job but facebook was part of the deal . LOL . F--- This country and the majority that run it.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Yep, there's nothing on my facebook that I would care if my boss sees. Hell, I'm friends with a couple of my bosses on there anyway.

Well of course I have only known 1 person in my entire life who doesn't play the ASS KISSING game. Infact he went out of his way not to par take in the ass kiising game. A true Man.

 

[BoomerD]

Yes, it's bullshit that they can make a job offer contingent on your Facebook info. NO, she's not going to get around that requirement.
IMO, it sucks that companies CAN legally do this, but it's not going to change...in fact, as on-line social networking and such gets to be more and more common, I expect to see more companies do this.
She's going to work for a law enforcement agency. They're usually VERY invasive about their employees' private lives. (moral turpitude and all that bullshit)

 

[Doppel]

Not cool, though I might accept it. Not long ago I cleansed my facebook totally, maxed out privacy settings, removed all pictures. I have nothing on there at all other than sarcastic wall posts. If I was about to accept something from an employer I would first cleanse everything again.

 

[Red Storm]

I think it's understandable depending on what kind of job you're applying for, but I've never had a FB or My Space account so this has never been an issue for me.

 

[SP33Demon]

You know you can make it so nobody can search for you? Why didn't she do this?