Employee Screening Through Social Networks is one of the top ten trends in the employee screening industry for 2009.
Jackie Ford, who is a partner in the employment law group at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP, wrote an article about this hot topic in today’s MarketWatch:
Various studies suggest that upwards of 40% of employers have trolled Facebook and other social networking sites for information on potential hires — and that when they find negative information on these sites, more than 80% of the employers factor that information into their hiring decisions.
Given how common the practice is, are employers well advised to use whatever information they can, from wherever they can? Not so fast.
While there is no specific prohibition on checking an applicant’s Facebook page, employers should carefully weigh the potential hazards before entering these waters.
Read four of the biggest traps for the unwary.
Photo Credit: luc legay
