• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

FYI Employee Background Screening

Faster, Smarter, Easier Employee Screening

Header Right

  • About
  • Solutions
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Login

800.809.2419

Dangers Of Using Social Networks On The Job Hunt In Australia

July 22, 2009 By Chris Miller

privacy_rights2

NEWS.com.au (Australia) reports about the Dangers of using social networks on the job hunt.

Employers using social networks to gather information on job candidates could be breaking the law.

Social networks have become hot recruitment tools but Harmers Workplace Lawyers warn that using such sources to gather personal information to screen would-be employees carries a number of legal risks.

Harmers senior associate Bronwyn Maynard says many employers and recruiters are not aware of their obligations under the existing Privacy Act let alone the “General Protections” section of the Fair Work Act that came into force on July 1, 2009.

Under the Privacy Act employers and recruiters must:

  • Inform a candidate that they have collected personal information about them.
  • Explain the purpose of gathering the information.
  • Tell the candidate who else will see the information.

Luckily for recruiters and hiring managers, most candidates don’t realise that under privacy legislation they are entitled to see notes made about them during the recruitment screening process.

“The Privacy Act also dictates that companies must only collect personal information that is necessary for their business,” explains Ms Maynard.

Candidates can apply directly to employers and recruitment consultants to see the notes made and information gathered about them during a recruitment campaign. A candidate can request that inaccurate information be corrected. If the candidate considers the information irrelevant he or she can then make a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner.

Ms Maynard said while there is no set timeframe, to expect a reply within 30 days would be a reasonable.

Read more about the Dangers of using social networks on the job hunt.

Related Posts From FYI Screening:

  • The Dangers of Using Social Networks for Employee Screening
  • Employee Screening Through Social Networks
  • 5 Legal Reasons Why Your Company Should Have a Social Networking Policy
  • Twitter and Employment Law Issues

Photo Credit: Hexadecimal Time

Filed Under: 2008 Best Employee Screening Posts, 2009 Best Employee Screening Posts, 2011 Best Employee Screening Posts, Best Practices For Employee Screening, Employee Screening, employment background checks, Job Search, Legal Compliance, Negligent Hiring, Social Networks Tagged With: Background Check, Criminal Background Checks, Employee Background Checks, Employee Screening, Legal Compliance, Social Networks

Primary Sidebar

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • 5 Reasons To Love Background Checks
  • Happy Independence Day!
  • 4 Great Reasons To Use FYI Screening For Your Background Checks
  • Happy Holidays from FYI Screening!
  • Happy Halloween from FYI Screening!

Testimonials

“FYI provides our company with reliable information that is crucial to our recruiting process. The reports that they generate are easy to understand, and the information provided is exactly what our company has requested and needs. Their customer service department has always been courteous, dependable and focused on the needs of our business. We’ve utilized FYI Screening for over 3 years now, and we appreciate the service that they provide.”

HR Manager, National Office Supply Company

Copyright © 2023 · FYI Screening · 800.809.2419 · Compliance