Responding to an increase in reports of employers seeking to gain “inappropriate access” to social network profiles of job applicants, online social media giant Facebook issued a warning to employers in a recent blog posted on the company website – ‘Protecting Your Passwords and Your Privacy’ – that the practice of asking job applicants for their social media passwords “undermines the privacy expectations and the security of both the user and the user’s friends” and could potentially expose businesses to “unanticipated legal liability.” The blog is available at: http://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-and-privacy/protecting-your-passwords-and-your-privacy/326598317390057. (more…)

A soon to be published study in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology – ‘Social Networking Websites, Personality Ratings, and the Organizational Context: More Than Meets the Eye?’ – claims that a quick review of social networking website (SNW) profile pages of job applicants on sites such as Facebook can be a better indicator and predictor of job success than standardized tests used by many human resources departments, according to an exclusive report in The Chicago Tribune’s ‘I Just Work Here’ column. The story “Facebook and job performance” is available at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/tribu/ijustworkhere/ct-biz-0220-work-advice-huppke-20120219,0,6069219.column. An early view of the study is available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00881.x/full. (more…)

Employers and recruiters have discovered a treasure trove of information about potential job applicants on social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and so-called ‘social media background checks’ are becoming more popular and prevalent than ever. However, the use of social media background checks for job applicants has become controversial and can present legal risks. Failure to utilize social media resources can arguably be the basis of a negligent hiring claim if an unfit person was hired for a position where a search of the internet may have raised a “red flag.” Conversely, employers face numerous landmines and pitfalls that can include that include privacy, discrimination, and accuracy issues. Lawsuits and developments in this area will likely be an ongoing topic in 2012.  This is Trend Number 3 of the fifth annual ‘Employment Screening Resources (ESR) Top 10 Trends in Background Checks’ for 2012. To view the list of trends, visit http://www.esrcheck.com/ESR-Top-10-Trends-in-Background-Checks-for-2012.php. (more…)

Employers and recruiters have discovered a treasure trove of information about potential job applicants on social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. However, the use of these sites can present legal risks, including privacy and discrimination issues, according to safe hiring expert Les Rosen, CEO of Employment Screening Resources (ESR), who will present the 90 minute webinar ‘Avoiding Legal Landmines when Using Facebook, LinkedIn & Other Social Media Websites for Screening Candidates’ on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT. To learn more or to register, visit http://www.thompsoninteractive.com/site/offer.jsp?promo=00125651&priority=00295701745. (more…)

Attorney and background screening expert Les Rosen, founder and President of accredited background check firm Employment Screening Resources (ESR), will discuss social media background checks in a session titled ‘Caution Advised! The Use of Social Networking Sites, Search Engines and Web 2.0 to Screen Applicants’ at the 2011 ASIS International 57th Annual Seminar and Exhibits. The session will take place on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 from 1:45 PM to 3:00 PM (EST) in Room W304E in Room W304E at the Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, in Orlando, Florida. To register for the 2011 ASIS International event, visit http://www.asis2011.org/. (more…)