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Employers asking for Facebook passwords

Should it be illegal for employers to ask for Facebook passwords?

  • This is already illegal, covered under existing anti-discrimination laws

    Votes: 9 25.7%

  • We need new legislation to make this illegal

    Votes: 15 42.9%

  • It's poor judgment on the part of the employers, but doesn't need to be illegal

    Votes: 9 25.7%

  • It should be legal, so that employers can conduct a thorough background check

    Votes: 2 5.7%
  • Total voters
    35
Kandahar said:
As some of you may have heard, some employers are starting to ask their employees or potential employees for their Facebook passwords, in order to "do a background check" on them. Some have implemented this practice as a condition for employment, a condition for promotion, or even as a condition to not be fired. Obviously this is a huge invasion of privacy, but it also seems to walk a very fine line when it comes to existing anti-discrimination laws. If a potential employer browsed someone's Facebook, they could find out a lot more than their drinking habits...they could reasonably be expected to find out the person's religion, race, sexual orientation, whether they are expecting a child, what their political views on unions are, etc.

Is this really a road that we should go down? Do we need legislation preventing this? What happens if an employer views someone's Facebook, sees that they're a member of a group typically associated with a certain race (e.g. NAACP or ADL or La Raza), and then decides not to hire them? Who knows if that was the actual reason they weren't hired, but I think the person could reasonably make the claim that they were discriminated against.

And here is a great resignation letter from a man who had to ask potential employees for their Facebook passwords before he could hire them: I hereby resign - raganwald's posterous
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The way I look at things like this is that until an employer pays me for twenty four hours a day 7 days a week, what I do during the time they're not paying me is none of their damn business.
 
I have a serious problem with it, as employment should be based on job performance, and not on personal life issues.
 
An employer should be able to ask for anything they want. It's their Job.
 
I've already commented on this thread that, as much as I don't think we need anymore laws, I think it should be illegal to ask for someone's Facebook password in order to get hired...or to ask to view their page. It's nothing more than blackmail, in my opinion.

Having said that, I want to comment on something else. When you post on Facebook under your real name, you should have absolutely no expectation of privacy. None. If you post something on Facebook, it's out there for "the duration," hell, eternity for all we know. Your BFF today? Maybe tomorrow notsomuch. You post something on your Facebook that would jeopardize your job or something you don't want certain people to know? Good luck with that.

You're a fool.
 
lizzie said:
I have a serious problem with it, as employment should be based on job performance, and not on personal life issues.
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I agree with this but I have to wonder what you think about an employer or potential employer looking up your credit rating? Seems like the same thing to me, yet it's done all the time.
 
TOJ said:
A competent investigative firm can find out whatever a person has posted on Facebook or other social media as well as criminal and financial background. The ones we use are not USA based and not subject to USA law. We only hear yeah or nay on the person and our fingerprints are not even on it. ;)
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Actively and purposely dicking with fellow citizens by skirting the intent of our own laws. It seems you're pretty proud of this. That's actually more repugnant than simply asking for a password. At least the asking for a password is above board and intellectually honest.
 
MoSurveyor said:
I agree with this but I have to wonder what you think about an employer or potential employer looking up your credit rating? Seems like the same thing to me, yet it's done all the time.
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Yes, I feel the same way about any invasion of privacy as a requirement for a job. Employment should be based on job performance, qualifications, and work history.
 
Phoenix said:
An employer should be able to ask for anything they want. It's their Job.
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I agree, they can ask. But they shouldn't expect to receive....
 
What if...? said:
An interesting aside, how would this practice affect me, a person who doesn't do facebook or any other social media sitesn
?
Could I be denied empoyment for NOT having a facebook account for them to examine?

I've never used commercial credit so my credit score is actually zero. And my insistence on only spending money I HAVE is now considered a valid reason to deny me employment.
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They may very well believe that you're lying... and deny you the job because of that.


What if...? said:
The way I look at things like this is that until an employer pays me for twenty four hours a day 7 days a week, what I do during the time they're not paying me is none of their damn business.
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Bingo! Quote of the Day!


MaggieD said:
Having said that, I want to comment on something else. When you post on Facebook under your real name, you should have absolutely no expectation of privacy. None. If you post something on Facebook, it's out there for "the duration," hell, eternity for all we know. Your BFF today? Maybe tomorrow notsomuch. You post something on your Facebook that would jeopardize your job or something you don't want certain people to know? Good luck with that.

You're a fool.
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Absolutely.
 
MoSurveyor said:
I agree with this but I have to wonder what you think about an employer or potential employer looking up your credit rating? Seems like the same thing to me, yet it's done all the time.
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Allegedly, people with bad credit are more prone to steal from the company... IOW bad credit = bad people.

IF a person has access to the company bank account, and has the access to potentially embezzle large sums, I can see some correlation. A bookkeeper or accountant, for example. Debt issues might provoke theft. Might.

Any other person? Even a lowly cashier asking if you want fries with your order? Absolutely unjustifiable.
 
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radcen said:
Actively and purposely dicking with fellow citizens by skirting the intent of our own laws. It seems you're pretty proud of this. That's actually more repugnant than simply asking for a password. At least the asking for a password is above board and intellectually honest.
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At least they're PAYING to invade your privacy instead of demanding you allow them to do it for free.
 
radcen said:
MaggieD said:
Having said that, I want to comment on something else. When you post on Facebook under your real name, you should have absolutely no expectation of privacy. None. If you post something on Facebook, it's out there for "the duration," hell, eternity for all we know. Your BFF today? Maybe tomorrow notsomuch. You post something on your Facebook that would jeopardize your job or something you don't want certain people to know? Good luck with that.

You're a fool.
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Absolutely.
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Expanding on this a little bit...

I don't put much stock or faith in Facebook's (or anybody's) privacy settings. To me it's no different than putting a lock on your front door. It will only keep people out that don't care enough to figure it out. It will NOT keep people out that are determined to get in.

Hence, you ALWAYS need to be mindful of what you post, even when you think only chosen people will see it.
 
radcen said:
Allegedly, people with bad credit are more prone to steal from the company... IOW bad credit = bad people.

IF a person has access to the company bank account, and has the access to potentially embezzle large sums, I can see some correlation. A bookkeeper or accountant, for example. Debt issues might provoke theft. Might.

Any other person? Even a lowly cashier asking if you want fries with your order? Absolutely unjustifiable.
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I'm sorry, those explanations might have been significant two decades ago but anyone can be hit with identity theft, which virtually destroys your credit rating (among many other things).

I'm with lizzie, here. Employment should only be contingent on qualifications, work history/recommendations, and job performance. An employee's private life should be just that. To me it's a very simple arrangement;
I don't bring my private life to work and my employer stays out of my life when I'm not at work.
 
Ockham said:
I agree, they can ask. But they shouldn't expect to receive....
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That's my point. If you disagree tell them NO. If they insist, don't work there. If the job is that important, delete your account.
 
MoSurveyor said:
I agree with this but I have to wonder what you think about an employer or potential employer looking up your credit rating? Seems like the same thing to me, yet it's done all the time.
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my job in 2010 required credit check, background check, full consumer history, and a urine screen. all of this for a micro / molecular biology lab job.

not only was it a complete waste of money for them, it was also an invasion of my privacy. to tell you the truth, i wouldn't mind seeing these test banned except in the instance of employees for whom it might actually have some bearing. i.e. drug screen for pilots / OTR truck drivers; financial screens for bank tellers, etc. pulling a complete consumer history for a lab worker is absolutely useless.
 
Helix said:
my job in 2010 required credit check, background check, full consumer history, and a urine screen. all of this for a micro / molecular biology lab job.

not only was it a complete waste of money for them, it was also an invasion of my privacy. to tell you the truth, i wouldn't mind seeing these test banned except in the instance of employees for whom it might actually have some bearing. i.e. drug screen for pilots / OTR truck drivers; financial screens for bank tellers, etc. pulling a complete consumer history for a lab worker is absolutely useless.
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What the hell is a "consumer history"? I've never heard of that one.

I agree with you, btw.
 
Seriously why would they need your password? Are they going to log in as you, and post stuff as you?
 
radcen said:
What the hell is a "consumer history"? I've never heard of that one.

I agree with you, btw.
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i have no clue. the form said "consumer history background check," though, and i was forced to sign it as a condition of employment. i don't know if it's their fancy word for credit check or if they actually wanted to see scans of checks i wrote to the damned grocery store in 1995 or something.

they didn't even share the results with me, the bastards.
 
Your Star said:
Seriously why would they need your password? Are they going to log in as you, and post stuff as you?
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They log on whenever they want to check your posts ... and those of your friends and associates, too. So even if you don't post about using drugs, but many of your friends do, it's a small step to a special drug screen for you. If you get disgruntled at work, like you really dislike that new boss or think some new girl is hot, they can keep tabs on that, too.

People have already been fired for posting things about work related issues. No venting about work on-line anymore; best to keep that stuff in your den or kitchen. Some potential employer five years from now might see it and decide not to hire you.
 
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MoSurveyor said:
They log on whenever they want to check your posts ... and those of your friends and associates, too. So even if you don't post about using drugs, but many of your friends do, it's a small step to a special drug screen for you. If you get disgruntled at work, like you really dislike that new boss or think some new girl is hot, they can keep tabs on that, too.

People have already been fired for posting things about work related issues. No venting about work on-line anymore. Best to keep that stuff in your den, nowadays. Some potential employer five years from now might see it and decide not to hire you.
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But why would they need your password? They can just search your name, and find you. And if it's private well then they don't get to see it. They can't search my house, and look for drugs, why should they be able to look on my private Facebook page and search for stuff. Highly unethical.
 
Your Star said:
But why would they need your password? They can just search your name, and find you. And if it's private well then they don't get to see it. They can't search my house, and look for drugs, why should they be able to look on my private Facebook page and search for stuff.
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Exactly.


Highly unethical.
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That's the point of this thread.
 
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MoSurveyor said:
They log on whenever they want to check your posts ... and those of your friends and associates, too. So even if you don't post about using drugs, but many of your friends do, it's a small step to a special drug screen for you. If you get disgruntled at work, like you really dislike that new boss or think some new girl is hot, they can keep tabs on that, too.

People have already been fired for posting things about work related issues. No venting about work on-line anymore; best to keep that stuff in your den or kitchen. Some potential employer five years from now might see it and decide not to hire you.
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I never... ever... comment on work-related issues (or people). Good, bad, or indifferent. Period. Never. Ever. I also refuse to have co-workers as online forum 'friends'.

I will comment on politics... some... but not work.
 
radcen said:
I never... ever... comment on work-related issues (or people). Good, bad, or indifferent. Period. Never. Ever. I also refuse to have co-workers as online forum 'friends'.

I will comment on politics... some... but not work.
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Quoting myself... :2razz:

I have an online friend who... pretty much every week, several times a week... posts about how much she is looking forward to the weekend, how she hates Mondays, how the work day is dragging so slow, yada yada yada. Essentially, advertising how much she hates her job. I gently suggested she might not want to do that. She blew it off. *sigh*
 
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