Employers and Social Media, a Quandary in Progress.

[Morcheeba]

Facebook means nothing. Everyone is always stirring up things on the internet.



Facebook witnesses won't keep a case in court. :|

Then it should not be legal for companies to base their opinion of an employee on their facebook profile, friends, statuses etc. And lately it's been a huge concern.

Just saying. If the courts won't use it as viable proof then companies should be getting slapped with discrimination suits for turning to facebook.

 

[Strid]

Re: Getting a divorce

Then it should not be legal for companies to base their opinion of an employee on their facebook profile, friends, statuses etc. And lately it's been a huge concern.

Just saying. If the courts won't use it as viable proof then companies should be getting slapped with discrimination suits for turning to facebook.

There is a difference between the two situations. There is no law that states a company can not hire someone who appears to be a person that will not represent the company, on and off the clock, as they want to be represented. When people post pictures of themselves on Facebook all tuggin' a Jefferey and holdin' a red Dixie cup that doesn't really promote what is in the company's best interest for its employees.

 

[Morcheeba]

Re: Getting a divorce

There is a difference between the two situations. There is no law that states a company can not hire someone who appears to be a person that will not represent the company, on and off the clock, as they want to be represented. When people post pictures of themselves on Facebook all tuggin' a Jefferey and holdin' a red Dixie cup that doesn't really promote what is in the company's best interest for its employees.

You have a point. But that's not always the case. Companies are known to use the loop holes our labour laws provide and Facebook shouldn't be another loop hole for discrimination, yet it is.

As far as hearsay goes, if the girl that sent the msg is willing to also do so if/when served, the msg would hold up. It would have to be part of her original statement though I think.

To clarify, if she were stating SHE had been the party he committed adultery with.

 

[Valandil]

Re: Getting a divorce

Then it should not be legal for companies to base their opinion of an employee on their facebook profile, friends, statuses etc. And lately it's been a huge concern.

Just saying. If the courts won't use it as viable proof then companies should be getting slapped with discrimination suits for turning to facebook.

The solution to this problem is quite simple:

1. Don't have a social networking profile to begin with.
2. Make sure you have all your privacy settings enabled to their highest settings, although with the FB bug who knows what you're getting with that.
3. Do what I do, have zero pictures of yourself, make zero wall posts, make zero comments on other people's walls, remove all personal information about yourself. The only reason I still have a FB profile is because it makes it a little bit simple to plan get-togethers with family and friens who are spread out geographically.

 

[Morcheeba]

Re: Getting a divorce

The solution to this problem is quite simple:

1. Don't have a social networking profile to begin with.
2. Make sure you have all your privacy settings enabled to their highest settings, although with the FB bug who knows what you're getting with that.
3. Do what I do, have zero pictures of yourself, make zero wall posts, make zero comments on other people's walls, remove all personal information about yourself. The only reason I still have a FB profile is because it makes it a little bit simple to plan get-togethers with family and friens who are spread out geographically.

Thanks for the advise.

I wasn't asking for any though, in case that was specifically for me. I don't tend to post things I don't wish the world to see or know of me =)

I still think ones professional life is quite separate from their personal, and no company should ever have the right to use someone's personal life as means of refusing employment. It's pretty sad if they feel it necessary to creep a potential candidates personal profile.

But that's besides the point.

 

[Romper]

Re: Getting a divorce

There is a difference between the two situations. There is no law that states a company can not hire someone who appears to be a person that will not represent the company, on and off the clock, as they want to be represented. When people post pictures of themselves on Facebook all tuggin' a Jefferey and holdin' a red Dixie cup that doesn't really promote what is in the company's best interest for its employees.

What people do on their off-time shouldn't matter.

 

[Strid]

Re: Getting a divorce

What people do on their off-time shouldn't matter.

And that's your choice to decide if you choose to ever run a business and the vice versa is mine if I choose. It's a very -nice- way to look at it, but it's a dog with many, many fleas. First off, it's not discriminatory to not hire Joe because he looks like he can tear up the town on weekends (I'm not saying you said that, but that was more for Cheebs take on it), that is not a discriminatory action under the U.S. laws, to my knowledge at least. Most importantly, company image does matter and a person, when hired, through his/her actions, dress, etc. is a company representative, not by all, but by some, which is in a company's best interest to appease -all- therefore, they are always an image of the company.

In my younger years I'd have loved to agree with you. However, I've seen how important it is to always keep your image up and represent who you work for (on the personal end and the business' end). If you can't represent your company while in public, then you need to find somewhere else to place yourself. Who you work for is a reflection of you as much as you are of them. And suffice to say, punching the clock doesn't negate that, not ever. Your private life should be private, so keep it private and all is well but make it public and you're no longer on your "off-time", so to speak.

 

[Morcheeba]

Re: Getting a divorce

I see what you're saying Strid and I do understand it is that way for many companies, but it doesn't excuse the fact that it enables companies to use someones personal life as ammunition. And speaking for my self, if I am not hired as a sales person or a 'concierge' but just a peon among the thousands already hired, I should not have to worry about whether I decided to get a laugh out of mooning peeps on a weekend drunk. (that's just one example, and something I've not personally done but know many who have).

We're not being paid on our weekends to represent the company as we're not on their clock, so they still should not have any right to use our personal profiles/pictures/behaviour/opinions or discussions against us.

Unless of course we've tatted a company logo on ourselves and act as walking billboards for the company. But that's never the case. People would have to know who you work for, my Facebook profile has never stated the company name(s) I've have or do work for, but that's my choice to keep my work life separate from my personal.

If I ever found out my employer had creeped my facebook to come to some sort of conclusion on my worth or value there'd be hell to pay.

*another add - we should have gotten this split from Eils thread.

 

[Strid]

Re: Getting a divorce

If I ever found out my employer had creeped my facebook to come to some sort of conclusion on my worth or value there'd be hell to pay.

Unfortunately, about the only thing you could do is quit and find somewhere else to work. And yeah, I do say "unfortunately" and mean that. Though I accept how it is I'm not sure how I like it. It's one of those instances where I'm already an extremely private person so it doesn't affect me but I realize that's never a good excuse to pull out of the hat on something so I leave it open.

*another add - we should have gotten this split from Eils thread.

I agree. It's a hell of a good topic. I'll refrain from anything else about it here.

 

[alanon]

Re: Getting a divorce

Everything you do matters

 

[Lucki]

Re: Getting a divorce

Not if it effects their employer.

 

[Zaltana]

Re: Getting a divorce

Not if it effects their employer.

it only effects the employer depending on the type of job that person has.

Green's examples are pretty cut and dry on this. Public servents, such as cops, lawyers, community officials need to keep a certain amount of discretion in regards to whet they do off duty. Cops for example are on call at all times and should they witness a crime even off duty they are required to respond. Now if said officer ignored that duty while he/she was off it would cast a very negative light on him and his whole unit. Not to say he/she can't go out to the bar or clubs or anything when he's off duty. your off time is yours to use as you see fit. but should you hold a certain position of importance, one should use it wisely. Common Sense will save people a lot of trouble if they just took the time to use it.

 

[Lucki]

it only effects the employer depending on the type of job that person has.

Green's examples are pretty cut and dry on this. Public servents, such as cops, lawyers, community officials need to keep a certain amount of discretion in regards to whet they do off duty. Cops for example are on call at all times and should they witness a crime even off duty they are required to respond. Now if said officer ignored that duty while he/she was off it would cast a very negative light on him and his whole unit. Not to say he/she can't go out to the bar or clubs or anything when he's off duty. your off time is yours to use as you see fit. but should you hold a certain position of importance, one should use it wisely. Common Sense will save people a lot of trouble if they just took the time to use it.

I'm sorry, but in this day and age, what you do in your off time can effect your job. Everybody and everything is connected now. If you do something that can either cast your employer in a bad light, there's a good chance they could find out about it and repremand/fire you.

 

[Morcheeba]

Re: Getting a divorce

I'm sorry, but in this day and age, what you do in your off time can effect your job. Everybody and everything is connected now. If you do something that can either cast your employer in a bad light, there's a good chance they could find out about it and repremand/fire you.

You paint a very sad existence for the working man. We work to live, not live to work, and certainly not live under the thumbs of our employers.

To be honest Lucki, I'm really glad I have the opposite outlook on this matter. And the last employers, which I'll most likely be returning to after my maternity (American owned) wouldn't be surprised or offended if I told them to mind their business about my personal life. That's respecting that everyone has a life, and it doesn't and shouldn't revolve around work unless you have chosen to be all about work.

 

[alanon]

Re: Getting a divorce

Sorry, you don't get time off from life. I'm not limiting the scope to employer-employee. If you do moronic things, even if it's your "time-off", you are a moron.

Everything you do matters.

 

[Morcheeba]

Re: Getting a divorce

Sorry, you don't get time off from life. I'm not limiting the scope to employer-employee. If you do moronic things, even if it's your "time-off", you are a moron.

Everything you do matters.

You know someone's personal business is just that, their business.

You wouldn't allow someone outside your marriage to dictate what appropriate behaviour/acts are in your marriage. So why would it be okay for an employer to dictate what appropriate behaviour is for you to keep your job when you're not on their time. Because from 9-5 monday to friday you're theirs and your behaviour DOES matter.

one exception being breaking the law. Outside that they can tend to their own lives.

 

[alanon]

Re: Getting a divorce

Does anyone actually have any examples of someone they feel was unjustly terminated, or are we going to continue to impossibly argue the hypothetical?

 

[motley]

Re: Getting a divorce

he wants a divorce, then random women message you, even if he didnt "cheat" it smells like pescado muerte.

I know you're already well into the process, but If you have insurance it might be worthwhile to consult a marriage counselor even if you have to go by yourself... The psychological behavior of married people is often extremely guided and predictable.... The main reason i offer this advice is because YOU didnt think anything was wrong...

 

[Morcheeba]

Re: Getting a divorce

Does anyone actually have any examples of someone they feel was unjustly terminated, or are we going to continue to impossibly argue the hypothetical?

http://internet.cytalk.com/2010/09/how-to-get-stupidly-fired-because-of-facebook/

I'm sure I could find several more if I tried, but so could you.

some examples are of blatant disregard of policies that do stretch into their employees personal time. Others not so much.

from the horses mouths

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=41821456494

 

[Lucki]

http://internet.cytalk.com/2010/09/how-to-get-stupidly-fired-because-of-facebook/

I'm sure I could find several more if I tried, but so could you.

some examples are of blatant disregard of policies that do stretch into their employees personal time. Others not so much.

from the horses mouths

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=41821456494

No sympathy for them. They are all at fault for either A) friending their bosses, or B) not making their profiles private