Job seekers getting asked for Facebook passwords

unregistered168043 · #21 03/21/12, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary in ohio

Why would it! you voluntary gave them the information.

My answer is I dont have one. I dont.. I use google +

Kinda hard to say you don't have one when they are staring at your picture on facebook.

I agree with the 2 profile suggestion. I know a few people who have 2 profiles and I often wondered why. These employers are looking for information upon which to judge you, so if you don't have a page, they might go with someone who does. Simply not having a facebook page might end up costing you a job!

fffarmergirl · #22 03/21/12, 06:28 AM

Before I interviewed for my current position, I blocked the boss/interviewer from my Facebook and blocked everybody else at the company whos names I could get. I made a new professional email account so they couldn't do a web search using my email address.

The only things they would find if they searched my facebook or email address is everything I've posted on this forum, political opinions, names of children, names of exes . . . . . . . . None of that is the business of perfect strangers. My only association with them is that I provide them with services and they provide me with paychecks. My personal life is only their business if I choose to share.

A person job hunting could make up a separate Facebook, throw a few pictures on there, and just act like they don't use the computer much at home.

beowoulf90 · #23 03/21/12, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InvalidID

I'd have laughed all the way out of the office.

Agreed!

The Company can ask what ever they want.. But by the same token I can tell them to take a fast train to an extremely heated location and what stop to get off at... It's real easy to walk out the door!...

big rockpile · #24 03/21/12, 08:58 AM

Even before Facebook I know of companies that hire people then find some Private Matter on the Hired Person only to hold it over their Head,basically Blackmail so they wouldn't cause problems with the company.

big rockpile

Aintlifegrand · #25 03/21/12, 09:10 AM

It is becoming common practice these days... employers even have begun to check those of current employees... people call out and then post on facebook that they have been at the lake all day for instance has gotten some nurses I know in a lot of trouble...of course they weren't the brightest IMO if they did that...

Cornhusker · #26 03/21/12, 11:57 AM

All the more reason to drop Facebook and other "social media"
there's no privacy anymore.
What if some employer didn't like political cartoons you post or 'like'?
Would anti Obama posts keep you out of a government job?

beaglady · #27 03/21/12, 12:04 PM

I can somewhat see the employer's side of this. Imagine a gov't or court employee whose job is to safeguard the welfare of children. Then imagine that that employee had a facebook page with him/herself looking wasted, with a child on their lap, in front of a table full of empty drink glasses. Captions bragging about the party...

DYngbld · #28 03/21/12, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary in ohio

Providing the username and password to anyone is a violation of user agreement between you and facebook....

That was my thought exactly.

I would have said so as well. There is no reason a company needs your facebook, or any other passwords to any thing you have. They may request you become a fan of a corporate fan site, or something, but then again that is at your discretion. I wouldn't work for a company that has that little integrity. I know HR went to my facebook page. I friended the HR and security manager. I don't air my dirty laundry to the world and maintain a fairly private life, so unless you want to see pictures of my farm, and what level in farmville I am, my facebook page is really boring.

It is not a invasion of privacy to look at your facebook, or any other social media, you put the info out there. I would not give them any passwords, not even to company equipment that you are ultimately going to held accountable for.

J.T.M. · #29 03/21/12, 02:16 PM

If they seen my FB page they would think I had the brain of a 16 yr. old boy. ~ blush ~

What can I say... I like to laugh.

Haven · #30 03/23/12, 06:25 AM

I know someone who sat down at an interview to be a cop. They pulled up his Myspace page and asked him to explain himself. His page was full of "Yo dude we gonna slam some beers and bang some ho's this weekend" among other interesting public statements - job denied. He deleted his page and was later hired as a cop in another county, and was fired after getting in a bar brawl and verbally assaulting a female in the process.

I don't agree with employers demanding access to these pages if they are private, however, I can see why there is a good reason for them to do a search online. Someone who posts these things publicly on the web is obviously a problem waiting to happen in some lines of work.

Rick · #31 03/23/12, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickieL

Hmmm, couldn't the applicants just say they don't facebook?

I'm gonna change my ID if i need to seek work.

Does anyone know how to change your FB id?

kasilofhome · #32 03/23/12, 02:27 PM

Well I know someone (not personally) and they wanted to friend me. I did not have a FB page. So, some time later I did and I went to their site only to fine that they had frined someone with my name and it was not me. There was a photo of a person who was the wrong age and not the same race and nothing incommon. So.....................what if a HR pulls up the wrong person? My brothers common name took me pages to find him.

edcopp · #33 03/23/12, 02:36 PM

Just say NO!

Ohiogal · #34 03/23/12, 03:44 PM

If everyone said NO there'd be no issue. I'd have said NO and figured that if they were an upstanding company, that it would not be an issue. Same deal with the credit check prior to hiring.

Wayne02 · #35 03/23/12, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Facebook says employers can't ask for passwords

MENLO PARK, Calif., March 23 (UPI) -- Facebook says employers who require employees or job applicants to provide access to passwords could face legal action from the U.S. social media giant.

The company says it has seen a marked increase in reports of employers or others seeking to gain access to people's Facebook profiles or private information.

"This practice undermines the privacy expectations and the security of both the user and the user's friends," Erin Egan, Facebook's chief privacy officer, said Friday in a Facebook post. "It also potentially exposes the employer who seeks this access to unanticipated legal liability."

The company said it is most concerned with instances in which employers ask prospective or actual employees to reveal their passwords.

"If you are a Facebook user, you should never have to share your password, let anyone access your account, or do anything that might jeopardize the security of your account or violate the privacy of your friends."

Facebook said it has made it a violation of the company's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities to share or solicit a Facebook password.

The company warned employers could open themselves up to claims of discrimination if they see protected information, such as a person's age, and then fail to hire them.

Facebook said it will use legal means, if necessary, to protect the privacy of Facebook users.

"We'll take action to protect the privacy and security of our users, whether by engaging policymakers or, where appropriate, by initiating legal action, including by shutting down applications that abuse their privileges."

Read more: Facebook says employers can't ask for passwords - UPI.com

Bearfootfarm · #36 03/24/12, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Facebook said it has made it a violation of the company's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities to share or solicit a Facebook password.

It's also a "violation" to use anything other than your real name, or have more than one account, but many people do it
.

InvalidID · #37 03/24/12, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

It's also a "violation" to use anything other than your real name, or have more than one account, but many people do it
.

So what? Because some people break some rules it's ok to break the rest of the rules as well?

Bearfootfarm · #38 03/24/12, 03:08 AM

Quote:

So what? Because some people break some rules it's ok to break the rest of the rules as well?

If FACEBOOK want's to talk about "rules", they should enforce them for everyone.
Otherwise they have no crediblity.

If they only enforce rules when they feel like it, that's a good reason to have nothing to do with them in the first place

InvalidID · #39 03/24/12, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

If FACEBOOK want's to talk about "rules", they should enforce them for everyone.
Otherwise they have no crediblity.

If they only enforce rules when they feel like it, that's a good reason to have nothing to do with them in the first place

People weren't saying FB would cancel their accounts, they were using it as an excuse to not share their password. As in, I can't give you my password because it's against the rules of my user agreement.

Bearfootfarm · #40 03/24/12, 09:41 PM

Quote:

People weren't saying FB would cancel their accounts, they were using it as an excuse to not share their password. As in, I can't give you my password because it's against the rules of my user agreement.

Why would an employer care about Facebook's rules?
They aren't the ones with the account

And some were saying they would create accounts with false names.

They are under no obligation to give the passwords, rule or no rule.

Sharing a password with anyone CAN get the account suspended