A few weeks ago I read an interesting article on TechRepublic concerning potential employers using social networking sites such as myspace and facebook to find information on  candidates and potentially be charged with discrimination. HR professionals can gather information to find out if a candidate is a member of a protected class. According to workforce.com, 44% of employers use such sites the find info on candidates and 39% use them to find info on current employees. Lawsuits are expected to increase in the near future.

I found this interesting as people use Myspace and Facebook to find information or locate old friends, classmates, or people they are stalking, but employers is the next level. The comments on this short article was even more interesting. Last time I looked there were over 179 comments, so I assume people have strong opinions about this subject. Nonetheless, there was some intriguing dialog that took place there. Here are some of the comments and my thoughts:

"Wouldn't it be difficult to prove though? Best thing to do is not to put all your personal details on social net sites."

My thoughts: Hey now this is the most simple, but best advice. If you must put all your business on your page, how about making it private so your inner circle only knows.

"What about people with the same name as me? I do everything in my power to be an upright citizen and portray that image in my postings and general web presence. I also try not to look like a souless robot, even if if I happen to be one. I have found that my name is fairly common and some unsavory characters have even had opportunity to it. A particular most wanted fugitive has been known to use my name as an alias. Can I sue them if I don't get a job I really really want?"

My thoughts: Although it seems like an episode of Law & Order, it is a legitimate concern. It is best to not assume anything about anyone. This also brings up the issue of identity theft.

"Public information is -- well Public...As long as the data is posted and does not require any sort of password or authorization it is public information. The same as posting on a billboard. If you didn't want everyone to see it then you shouldn't have posted it. For a person of color to claim his public posting as the reason for not being hired can't prove that anymore that he wasn't hired because of his name sounding -- like a person of color. Furthermore you don't have to post a photo if you don't want to. Also I have received resumes with photos. I don't think this claim would hold up in court."

My thoughts: I agree with pretty much all of that. I also think about if you are taking crazy pictures and the potential employer walks by and sees you. Would that be basis for discrimination?

"Not just employers... LAWYERS TOO

Anybody here going through a divorce? I was moving a lawyer's network to a new office a few weeks ago and one tactic used is to check out clients and opposing clients on myspace. This attorney learned that his client (male) had an ex-to-be wife claiming poverty. On MySpace it was uncovered that she was living with a rich boyfriend and had everything in the world.

MySpace is public data. Treat it so."

My thoughts: Hey this thing is bigger than jobs. It caused this lady her settlement. Oh well seems she will be ok, but the affects of having a facebook or myspace page reaches beyond your job opportunities.

"I respectfully disagree...

You would be surprised at what will cause people in general to make judgments. As stated earlier, if you have pictures of your family up, they could decide that you have less time to dedicate to the job. It might not even be your site that the pictures are on, but a friend or family member's... or someone who has an agenda.

As someone who assists in hiring decisions, I think it would be far better to just stay away from these sites during the hiring process. You could lose a perfectly capable candidate who you made a misjudgment about because of the music they have playing, or the clothes they are wearing in what is not intended to be a professional environment.

As an employee of a highly conservative company, I can tell you that I never would have been hired if my boss had seen me outside of my workplace before I got hired- or my Myspace page, which I do keep under a pseudonym. Yet, he tells me I am the best person he has ever had in this position."

My thought: Again I agree. Think about this... who acts the exact same at all times at work as well as outside of work? No one I know. What about you? If you do, you probably don't hang out with that guy or that guy is you....

What do you say?

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