Do you think an employer should base hiring decisions on an applicant's internet "life"?

[CW&M Mom]

Or just not have a facebook account at all.

I totally dismiss any notion that a request to view facebook is akin to asking about religion. Disclosing that is voluntary as is having a facebook account. I think most ACLU threatdowns in arguments are silly.

Is it a request or is it a "you don't get this job unless I"m in your account?"

And after having a husband ridiculed over his religion with a job (and no he didn't bring it up or talk about it)...really is it a stretch?

[Smee]

To be clear, I'm no longer talking about giving out the password as that was apparently a misunderstanding I cleared up several posts back. I'm saying that some employers ask to see your wall. I'm not saying I think it's ok or not ok. My argument about privacy extends beyond facebook hence the urine testing analogy. I find both invasive, but facebook contains information that you willingly submit. You can always unsubmit it if privacy is a concern.

[Smee]

Is it a request or is it a "you don't get this job unless I"m in your account?"

And after having a husband ridiculed over his religion with a job (and no he didn't bring it up or talk about it)...really is it a stretch?

I suppose it's up for interpretation.

And I'm not arguing that people don't glean religious information from facebook. I am arguing that asking to see your facebook account is not the same as asking your religion.

[aimeebee]

Asking to look at your FB wall isn't much of a stretch from asking for personal references either. It is the same idea in theory, the employer is trying to learn more about you as a person and how you might interact with coworkers, clients, people in general. If your FB doesn't paint a true picture of you or if you are looking for work and don't like the way you come across to potential employers; you are able to clean up your wall. You might wanna change the way you post and edit or delete some of the things you put out there. Or, like Smee said delete your account and start all over.

I will say that I deleted lots of photos from my FB...just pictures of my kids, neices, family, etc. and an old profile pic of myself. They were gone for about a month but some of them magically reappeared all by themself!

If you didn't "get it" before, what happens on FB happens in front of God and everybody. Some people really need to stop and think about that before they hit enter, share or upload.

[CW&M Mom]

Asking to look at your FB wall isn't much of a stretch from asking for personal references either. It is the same idea in theory, the employer is trying to learn more about you as a person and how you might interact with coworkers, clients, people in general. If your FB doesn't paint a true picture of you or if you are looking for work and don't like the way you come across to potential employers; you are able to clean up your wall. You might wanna change the way you post and edit or delete some of the things you put out there. Or, like Smee said delete your account and start all over.

I will say that I deleted lots of photos from my FB...just pictures of my kids, neices, family, etc. and an old profile pic of myself. They were gone for about a month but some of them magically reappeared all by themself!

If you didn't "get it" before, what happens on FB happens in front of God and everybody. Some people really need to stop and think about that before they hit enter, share or upload.

And as I said before..it's one thing to keep improper things off your FB but I think it's kind of pathetic to have to say..Oh I can't share my son's baptism on my FB page to my family that couldn't attend because some future employer might think he has the right to see it.

Or if I am Gay...oh I can't put my spouse on my FB page..because then I'm giving away that I am gaySERIOUSLY????

I have Orthodox or very Practicing (not sure if that is the word?) Jewish friends and It would get ridiculous how much they would have to censor so it never gave it away that they were Jewish. Half the time they couldn't even say what they were making for dinner.

Look I totally understand that You are walking a line with FB..but no employer should be asking to get on your page...period...unless your talking CIA or similar situation...and then your talking federal government who doesn't care if your Jewish, or Gay or Catholic anyways (and I'm gonna take a wild guess that if your in the CIA you don't get to have a FB page).

[aimeebee]

And as I said before..it's one thing to keep improper things off your FB but I think it's kind of pathetic to have to say..Oh I can't share my son's baptism on my FB page to my family that couldn't attend because some future employer might think he has the right to see it.

Or if I am Gay...oh I can't put my spouse on my FB page..because then I'm giving away that I am gaySERIOUSLY????

I have Orthodox or very Practicing (not sure if that is the word?) Jewish friends and It would get ridiculous how much they would have to censor so it never gave it away that they were Jewish. Half the time they couldn't even say what they were making for dinner.

Look I totally understand that You are walking a line with FB..but no employer should be asking to get on your page...period...unless your talking CIA or similar situation...and then your talking federal government who doesn't care if your Jewish, or Gay or Catholic anyways (and I'm gonna take a wild guess that if your in the CIA you don't get to have a FB page).

Well, it is what it is..they are asking and it isn't illegal at least not unless some new law passes or it goes to trial and some judge/case law says they can't. I think there are plenty of ways around any issues it would cause. All you would have to do is set up your facebook so that pictures/posts can only be viewed by certain groups of people. Then you make it so the people you list as family or close friends are the only ones who can see the pictures of your kids or church activities. To be honest, I don't think too many people are worried about a future boss figuring out what brand of religion that they practice.

Anyway, let's just say you get hired by some prejudiced employer who would be bothered by your religion or your child's special needs or your sexual orientation. How long are you going to pretend your religion is mainstream, your child is normal or you are not gay? Just until the probationary employment period is over? Until the insurance kicks in? Forever? If the employer is going to have an issue with it, wouldn't they just come up with some other excuse to let you go whenever they discover your secret? Having a child with health issues, prescriptions, frequent doctor visits, etc. I'd guess they will find out sooner rather than later.

[Doglover8180]

My opinion (Not that it matters much) but just throwing it out there

I will put this in bullet format for ease of reading.

I think:

- An employer doesn't have the right to ask for any of your passwords to anything.

- Most employers are smart enough to know not to ask for that.

- I wouldn't ask to see an applicant's facebook wall either.

- I simply would take the resume, plug name into facebook, search by city and see if I could find them.

- I also wouldn't be looking at their facebook page to find out what religion they are, what their health problems are, etc... - I'd be trying to get a feel for who they are overall.

- If their profile isn't public, I won't find anything out anyways.

- So, my conclusion is this, assuming that most would not ask your facebook password (nor do I think an employer should ask your passwords for any of your personal stuff) and I think 99% of employers wouldn't, that being said - unless you put your sexual orientation, religion, health problems on a public media site, like facebook & made the choice to make it public, they will not find it. If they do find it because of your choice to make it public, it's fair game for them to look at it.

End of bullet point list.