The invasion of ones personal life is unethical
When it comes to the practice of asking for someone’s password the phrase invasion of privacy comes to mind. Everyone understands the moral ethics revolved around snooping through another individuals personal information. This same moral rule applies directly to the subject of asking for employees social media network passwords. The rule in code of ethics states that you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If the roles were switched and the employer was now the employee, the new employee would not want their employer looking though their private information, ones employer should never have the right to snoop through your personal social media webpage.
Maryland passes bill protecting social media website passwords
Many people have been faced with the decision
of whether or not to provide their employers with their passwords to
social media websites. When employers ask for this information it creates an uncomfortable
atmosphere, leaving employees wondering if it is an invasion of
privacy for employers to search through their private web pages. Maryland has
taken a stand being the first state to pass a law banning employers from
prompting applicants and current employees for their passwords to their many
different social media websites. Many feel as though this wide spread issue
needs to be addressed in all state to provide the protection of employees personal lives from being
intertwined with their professional life.
United States House of Representatives
declines Facebook user protection amendment
The utilitarian approach of doing the greatest good for
the greatest amount of people should be applied to this topic. Although
separate states are attempting to put a ban on the prompting of the password,
many people believe that this should be an issue for the federal government.
If the federal government was able to pass a law that prohibited this unfair
employment practice, privacy in the workplace would exist in all career fields. An attempt was made to pass an amendment that would provide Facebook users the ability protection of their password, but after one day of discussion the House voted against the legislation. Majority of the Republicans, who voted against the legislation argued that the proposed legislation by the Democrats didn't help, but they were willing to work on a better proposal in the future.
Employers try to justify the practice of asking for password
Employers feel that in order to get a better judgement of the prospective candidate for a job position they need to know how they behave off the clock. People tend to act different and more relaxed in unprofessional settings, and their true character, motives and values tend to shine. Employers want to know this information to see if the potential candidate has what it takes to keep the company moving in the right direction. In instances where management is not around they want to know does the candidate have the attributes that will motivate him to keep working or relax on the job. Employers use social media websites to find out as much as they can in order to help them with their decision making in the hiring process. Although the reason behind this practice is understandable, the method still poses ethical issues.
Tips for safeguarding your social media webpage
Career coach Lauren Allen provides tips to safe guard your Facebook from unwanted eyes. The first and most important rule is to always keep your Facebook private and view-able by only family and selected friends. When posting material on your Facebook you should always be conscious of what you post. Allen's rules is that "if you would not want your grandmother to see it do not post it." This rule applies to photos, post, and all other media that can be posted on such websites. Although people should not have to be cautious of their personal life activities, precautions are necessary until a law can be passed protecting them from invasion of privacy on the web.
The practice of employers asking for passwords to websites like Facebook and Twitter is becoming a bigger issue in society today. A push to pass more state or federal laws is currently being pursued due of the amount of lawsuit arising from this practice. Hopefully in the near future a amendment will be passed protecting all citizens in the United States from unfair hiring practices like the prompting of the password.
Employers try to justify the practice of asking for password
Employers feel that in order to get a better judgement of the prospective candidate for a job position they need to know how they behave off the clock. People tend to act different and more relaxed in unprofessional settings, and their true character, motives and values tend to shine. Employers want to know this information to see if the potential candidate has what it takes to keep the company moving in the right direction. In instances where management is not around they want to know does the candidate have the attributes that will motivate him to keep working or relax on the job. Employers use social media websites to find out as much as they can in order to help them with their decision making in the hiring process. Although the reason behind this practice is understandable, the method still poses ethical issues.
Tips for safeguarding your social media webpage
Career coach Lauren Allen provides tips to safe guard your Facebook from unwanted eyes. The first and most important rule is to always keep your Facebook private and view-able by only family and selected friends. When posting material on your Facebook you should always be conscious of what you post. Allen's rules is that "if you would not want your grandmother to see it do not post it." This rule applies to photos, post, and all other media that can be posted on such websites. Although people should not have to be cautious of their personal life activities, precautions are necessary until a law can be passed protecting them from invasion of privacy on the web.
The practice of employers asking for passwords to websites like Facebook and Twitter is becoming a bigger issue in society today. A push to pass more state or federal laws is currently being pursued due of the amount of lawsuit arising from this practice. Hopefully in the near future a amendment will be passed protecting all citizens in the United States from unfair hiring practices like the prompting of the password.
I do believe that a person’s behavior off the clock may be a great indicator of their personality and the type of activities they engage in which may be interesting to potential bosses, but I think that having access to something like a social media password poses ethical issues. I think social media is a very personal way for people to communicate and share thoughts, and employers should not have access to these types of things. It is up to the prospective employee to decide what information they want about themselves to be present. In an article by Gregory Ferenstein, the new law concerning these practices was discussed. “A newly signed California law forbids employers and universities from asking employees and applicants for their social media passwords.” I agree with this because of the ethical risks having access to this kind of information poses.
ReplyDeleteIt's understandable why employers may want passwords to social networks because it could lead to more information abut potential employs that the person would not normally give. For the most part, people are not willing to hand over their passwords to potential employers. Feeling that, social networking places are private and should have nothing to do with potential employment. However, USA Today exclaims "as the job market steadily improves, other job candidates are confronting the same question from prospective employers, and some of them cannot afford to say no." (http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-03-20/job-applicants-facebook/53665606/1) As much as people want to say no, they feel as if they are obligated to oblige or they will have no chance to get the job they are after. In this case, I believe the employer has gone too far. An employer should not make a potential employee feel obligated to give information they are not comfortable sharing.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video you posted i definitely agree with the career coach. Also, the video brought to my attention a point that I had never thought of; The employers invading the privacy of employee's Facebook also invades the privacy of that employees friends. I privately say things to my friends on Facebook with the intent and thoughts that only my friend with see them unless they willing show it to someone, not for their employers to see. I don't want to have to filter what i privately say to my friends in fear that it may negatively effect them in the work world because their privacy is invaded. I don't know how unethical it would be for an employer to search their future employees on social networking because what that person chooses to have public is perfectly ok for anyone in the public to see. But if an employer goes further to use third parties or attempt to access their social networking sites without their consent or invading their privacy, then ethics seems to be an issue .
ReplyDeleteI do not believe it is ethical for employers to demand the Facebook passwords of their prospective employees. I understand that social attributes are important for professional performance and relations, but there are other methods of discovery out there. For example, the Myers-Briggs test is a personality assessment widely utilized by employers. Although the Myers-Briggs test may not be as revealing as Facebook, it is an ethical means of testing. If employers insist on learning about their interviewees, I propose they create their own personality assessment that can be conducted as part of the interview process. In fact Facebook itself does not condone employer intrusion. A Forbes article (http://www.forbes.com/sites/chunkamui/2012/03/27/facebook-privacy-is-beyond-facebooks-control/) states “Facebook initially responded by asserting that sharing user passwords, or asking for someone else’s password, violated its user agreements. Now it threatens that employers may face ‘unanticipated legal liability’ for requesting such information.” If its creators don’t approve of the practice, then perhaps it is time to stop these unethical practices. It, however, does not seem like employers will stop anytime soon. Consequently, I agree with the suggestions of career coach, Laura Allen. Because Facebook investigation exists, it is important to adjust your online behaviors. Interviewees should not put anything on Facebook they would not want their employer (or Grandmother) to see. By doing this, interviewees will be able to avoid the risks associated with Facebook and employment.
ReplyDelete