Companies asking job applicants for Facebook passwords

[salvorhardin]

Maybe we should just require employees to be implanted with 24/7 audio-visual recording devices just in case they might complain about their employer to a friend or spouse?

When Justin Bassett interviewed for a new job, he expected the usual questions about experience and references. So he was astonished when the interviewer asked for his Facebook username and password.

...

Since the rise of social networking, it has become common for managers to review publically available Facebook profiles, Twitter accounts and other sites to learn more about job candidates. But many users, especially on Facebook, have their profiles set to private, making them available only to selected people or certain networks.

Companies that don't ask for passwords have taken other steps -- such as asking applicants to friend human resource managers or to log in to a company computer during an interview. Once employed, some workers have been required to sign non-disparagement agreements that ban them from talking negatively about an employer on social media.

Asking for a candidate's password is more prevalent among public agencies, especially those seeking to fill law enforcement positions such as police officers or 911 dispatchers.

Full story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-more-job-applicants-asked-for-facebook-passwords-20120320,0,1839899,full.story

[hobbit709]

1. I would not so politely tell them to intercourse themselves.

[Uncle Joe]

16. I would not so politely tell them to consume fecal material and expire.

[SheilaT]

17. I would say the same thing to them.

For one thing, I thought all Facebook accounts were supposed to be in the real name of the person having it, and I understand that Facebook has shut down accounts using pseudonyms.

I have my privacy settings very high, and I limit those I befriend.

In my case, I'm actually the only person with my first and last name in this country and on Facebook. I do see Facebook as a potential time bomb for a lot of people, especially young folks who post pictures and things that may seem amusing when 19 or 22, but at age 30 are not. Actually, I myself almost never post anything either on my own page or on anyone else's. I simply do not like the way whatever is posted is out there for too many people to see.

[LisaL]

27. But then you shouldn't even bother to interview with them.

[hobbit709]

28. Most likely that wouldn't be asked until the interview.

[KansDem]

2. What if you don't have a Facebook account?

[salvorhardin]

4. Heh. Funny you should mention that.

I have a friend who works at a small city newspaper. They were required to create Facebook accounts, under their own names, friend everybody else on the paper, and sign nondisparagement agreements. The idea, of course, wasn't to spy on the employees online but to increase the paper's interaction with the audience, but ya know, if you've got all your employees on FB, why not do a little spying?

[Trillo]

13. Were they required to put up real photos of themselves?

Supposedly facebook is using facial recognition software. So, once a photo is up, you're potentially in unknown privatized databases forever. Supposedly there are options to turn facebooks own facial recognition software off, but facebook cannot guarantee what others may do.

That kinda defeats even the idea of 24/7 hourly payment for workers., and would have to be ratcheted up to lifetime wages for compensation.

Get a job. Get paid for the rest of your life?

Somehow, I don't think any corporate entity would ever accept that, yet they want the 99% to pay their corporate cronies with information that lasts forever. Seems more than a bit hypocritical.

[salvorhardin]

14. Yep

And it wasn't just reporters and columnists either. It was everybody at the paper -- copy editors, ad sales, circulation, etc.

[Zalatix]

22. Tell them that you spend less time TALKING about life and more time DOING it.

Do, not brag.

Play the alpha fe/male card against them; take it from someone who used to oversee HR, most of them eat that stuff up.

[KansDem]

24. I've thought about that...

If asked, I might say "FaceBook? I'm too busy for FaceBook! I'm working all the time!"

(I won't tell them about DU!)

[tjwash]

5. Well...

...anyone stupid enough to have this kind of shit on their facebook pages for the world to see probably are pretty unemployable anyway.

[Zalatix]

23. One of those ignorami looked black.

argh, what a disgrace.

[leftyohiolib]

6. it's a disgusting invasion privacy to which the only answer should be

none of your damn business.

[salvorhardin]

7. Quite right.

[AgainsttheCrown]

9. Eh...

Just two weeks ago I was required to log in to to my account and my background investigator went through my page. It was for a job that offers me a potential 10K raise. I've got another kid on the way...student loan debt...a significant other in school at a time when subsidized loans for grad students have been cut...what would you do?

[leftyohiolib]

18. this is exactly why they get away with this

1st guy to the interview,with his own financial burdens, says to that employer none of your business doesnt get the job. 2nd guy in says none of your business b/c it's not. the 1st 2 try to make a stand saying this is not right and shouldnt be tolerated. then you walk in and say yes boss here's everything you asked for. you sell out everyone and you tell coporate america this behavior is just fine.
it's people like you that empower companies to invade the rights of others. everyone bitched when google was spying or homeland security listening to phonecalls. now they tell it to your face and you help them. this is why people are afraid to make a stand for things cause they know someone will come along and make it all pointless.
when we become a facist state it will be because of people like you and how do you think the one on the way will appreciate that.
toys now and facism later but dont worry there are plenty like you so you are in good company. just my opinion but i suppose ill be put on ignore now

[AgainsttheCrown]

21. Not gonna ignore you...

I completely agree with most of what you said. Except it's not a company- it's a Sheriff's Office. Even though I'd like to get out- My career prospects are limited to Law Enforcement right now. And the background process has always been quite invasive...

I could have said I don't have one, but they would have found it...

Many applicants before me said yes. My "stand" would have resulted in my staying at a job that makes considerably less and costs me significantly more in commuting costs.

Yeah, we've been conditioned to just turn around and take it. And yeah, my giving in perpetuates that.

In a perfect world I'd take a stand, but I'm not in a position to.

However I'm pragmatic and I'm working to be free to take a stand. To get to the point that I can say fuck off and not worry that the repercussions have effects on my kids.

But right now I'm inside the system and I can't afford to say fuck off to anyone at this point. I've got lives that depend on my pay check. And those lives require that my pay check be considerably more.

[magical thyme]

25. You do what you have to to take care of your family

You are not a "sellout" to do so.

15 years ago I could practically name my salary. Today, I have to take more shit than I've *ever* taken in my near 40 years of working, for pay that was appropriate 25 years ago and less than half my former hourly rate.

In 10-15 years, it could be the opposite again, which will be way too late for me but not for you. You do what you have to.

And then you get even. Post a pic of the most run-down, Deliverance-looking shack you can find and call it your home. Tell you "friends" that sadly it's all you can afford. Post a pic of starving children in where-ever, and list them as your kids. You'd like to feed and dress them better, but it's all you can afford. Or find some other nonsense to post that will jerk their chains, but not give them anything real to hold against you

[rocktivity]

30. There's a BIG difference between that and asking for your login password,

Last edited Tue Aug 12, 2014, 04:32 PM - Edit history (2)

and I hope it was done in your presence to answer any questions they may have. Knowing your name, the investigator could have found your page anyway.


rocktivity

[Zadoc]

8. POLL: Should employees be able to request a person's Facebook password as a condition of employment?

POLL: Should employees be able to request a person's Facebook password as a condition of employment?
Vote: http://www.wepolls.com/p/8584016

This is INSANE to me. I think it's also something that both liberals and conservatives can agree upon, that employeers should not be permitted to request the passwords for people's Facebook/Twiiter/whatever accounts as a condition of employment. What's next, email accounts? My bank accounts? Total insanity.

[AgainsttheCrown]

10. Passwords no...

Private messages- no.

But why shouldn't they be able to view the posts that a person makes on social media? It's essentially how we are presenting ourselves to the public.

(And I'm not arguing in favor- just thinking out loud. It felt creepy as hell to have that investigator go through my stuff)

[enlightenment]

11. It's only public if you allow it to be public.

Asking for access to a social networking site that is set to a strict privacy level is no different then demanding to be allowed to join you when you entertain your friends or talk to your spouse in the privacy of your home.

I feel very sorry for you that you were placed in the position you were in, and I understand that you're trying to find a way to rationalize the cyber-assault of your privacy. I realize you're not arguing for it.

[AgainsttheCrown]

12. I had this argument with a former background investigator...

He told me that the Austin Police Department (They may have changed that) would ask for your password. I felt that it was a gross violation of privacy akin to asking to look at your cellphone text messages or e-mails.

He agreed, but believed that viewing social media was an end-run around trumped up references. A really good investigator will branch out and ask an applicants listed references for more people to call.

If that's not good enough then I think that investigators should only view the public portion of a social media site and leave it at that.

[leftyohiolib]

19. that will be next and the sheeple will do it b/c theyve got reasons x,y and z for why they

should

[Hugabear]

15. Everyone should have at least two email accounts

One email account is for your personal use - which would include Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networking site.

The other email is your "professional" email account - one that is not associated with any of your personal social networking sites. This way, if your employer googles your email address, they won't be able to pull up your personal stuff.

I also have a 3rd email address that I use whenever I need to register for some online site where I know I'm going to receive a bunch of spam - spamphukker@*******.com - you should see the look on someone's face when I write that on some form.

[Jennicut]

20. I don't have one. But I suppose these companies will look into everything you are a part of online.

It needs to stop and it is out of control. Where is the privacy?

[Broderick]

26. Fuck that noise

I would just say I don't have one. Screw you.

[rocktivity]

29. ANYONE who knows my name and wants to see what's on my Facebook page

Last edited Fri Mar 23, 2012, 09:57 AM - Edit history (2)

only needs to got to Facebook.com and run a search. Also, I would consider giving out the login to be invasion of Facebook's privacy as well as my own.


rocktivity