No matter what you think, the Internet is not private.

ManateeGag: No matter what you think, the Internet is not private.

Cool. So what's your bank account log-in credentials? Internet is not private, and whatnot.

Isn't giving away your password a violation of the Facebook TOS?

I'm actually fairly certain that it's a violation of a lot of EEOC rules. There are all kinds of pieces of information that are indicated in your facebook profile that are illegal for employers to ask you about, i.e., age, sexual orientation, marital status. The reasoning being, if they ask you about it, they are more likely to discriminate against you based on it. It seems like overkill to pass a separate law about it.

Lor M. Ipsum: ManateeGag: No matter what you think, the Internet is not private.

Cool. So what's your bank account log-in credentials? Internet is not private, and whatnot.

Only if giving you that information is contingent with me getting a paycheck.

If anyone else really wants that information bad enough, they can and will get it.

nopokerface: Most of that information has to be provided to an employer once hired.

you have to provide your employer "most" of your age, sexual orientation, and marital status?

Easy answer: Face what?

No one has thought about having a throwaway FB account from a throwaway email account?

nopokerface: Wyrdbrthr: I'm actually fairly certain that it's a violation of a lot of EEOC rules. There are all kinds of pieces of information that are indicated in your facebook profile that are illegal for employers to ask you about, i.e., age, sexual orientation, marital status. The reasoning being, if they ask you about it, they are more likely to discriminate against you based on it. It seems like overkill to pass a separate law about it.

Most of that information has to be provided to an employer once hired.

you're right. I was confusing it with hiring procedures.

EatHam: nopokerface: Most of that information has to be provided to an employer once hired.

you have to provide your employer "most" of your age, sexual orientation, and marital status?

I'm 30. That is 3/4 of my age. Also, I'm 90% heterosexual...but that Ryan Seacrest is irresistable. Also, I'm 100% married when my wife is around.

nopokerface: Actually yes. Age an marital status (for tax withholding purposes), yes. Sexual orientation, no.

You have to share that with HR, who must keep it confidential.

How is this different from an employer demanding to wiretap their employee and listen to recorded phone calls? According to the arguments in this thread so far, it is OK because a professional thief could get it anyway, and you aren't discussing anything that HR doesn't already know.

The My Little Pony Killer: R.A.Danny: No one has thought about having a throwaway FB account from a throwaway email account?

I thought about it briefly just to be able to make a point to people that I exist, but then I realized that the effort I would have to put into making a throwaway account is more than I'm willing to put into it. Besides, I deleted the real account for a reason.

If you as an employer rely on Facebook that much, I probably don't want to work for you anyway.

Just making a point for people that REALLY need a crappy job.

The My Little Pony Killer: R.A.Danny: The My Little Pony Killer: R.A.Danny: No one has thought about having a throwaway FB account from a throwaway email account?

I thought about it briefly just to be able to make a point to people that I exist, but then I realized that the effort I would have to put into making a throwaway account is more than I'm willing to put into it. Besides, I deleted the real account for a reason.

If you as an employer rely on Facebook that much, I probably don't want to work for you anyway.

Just making a point for people that REALLY need a crappy job.

Point duly noted and rejected. Any other sage advice you'd like to offer?

Watch whatever Ryan Leaf does, and do the opposite?

ManateeGag: If anyone else really wants that information bad enough, they can and will get it.

I'll give you a dollar for 'em. A whole dollar. Not an American dollar, mind you. Maybe a ZImbabwian, but hey a dollar's a dollar, what?

FTFA: Officials at the Frank Squires Elementary School in Cassopolis, Michigan insisted they check Kimberly Hester's account last year after she posted a picture of a co-worker wearing pants around the ankles and a pair of shoes....She went on to say: 'I have the right to privacy.'

...But not the other teacher whose photo she posted, apparently.

While I don't think the school has a right to ask for your facebook account access, she's a biatch I wouldn't want teaching my children.

JackieRabbit: Wyrdbrthr: I'm actually fairly certain that it's a violation of a lot of EEOC rules. There are all kinds of pieces of information that are indicated in your facebook profile that are illegal for employers to ask you about, i.e., age, sexual orientation, marital status. The reasoning being, if they ask you about it, they are more likely to discriminate against you based on it. It seems like overkill to pass a separate law about it.

No, it is isn't. It should be, but it isn't The article states that a bill in Congress, similar to the one being drafted in Michigan, which would make it illegal for employers to do this, was defeated last week.

BTW, the EEOC is charged with equal employment opportunity and discrimination, not privacy issues.

And I said I was wrong in that the employer can't ask for restricted information in an interview, but once they're employed they can, under certain circumstances, and for certain reasons.

But, in a job interview, having access to a facebook account would give the interviewer access to the information, including their age, race, sexual orientation etc, which is prohibited for them to have under the EEOC because it allows for discrimination. It has nothing to do with privacy. The Michigan law is kind of pointless in that sense.

So I guess teachers are not allowed to have a private life, outside the classroom

Trance750: So I guess teachers are not allowed to have a private life, outside the classroom

Not if they are secretly banging some 16 year old from one of their classes.

JackieRabbit: Wyrdbrthr: But, in a job interview, having access to a facebook account would give the interviewer access to the information, including their age, race, sexual orientation etc, which is prohibited for them to have under the EEOC because it allows for discrimination. It has nothing to do with privacy. The Michigan law is kind of pointless in that sense.

An employer can and actually must gather this information, but they CANNOT use it as a basis for their hiring or retention of an employee. Right now, sexual orientation is not a protected class. An employer may refuse to hire you or fire you because you are gay and there's nothing you can do beyond attempt to get damages through a civil action.


/used to be an EEOC chairman

Sorry, are you saying that the employer must gather the information prior to hiring, or once they've hired the employee? Because it's always been my understanding that asking for that information in an interview was verboten.

Persnickety: Reason #378 why I don't have a Facebook account.

Reasons 1-377 are all variations on me being too lazy.

Reason #1: Mark Zuckerberg is the devil incarnate.