For the longest time, companies have been warning the public that online presences such as social networking profiles and web pages have effects on employment (or keeping your job once you’ve been employed).
If in the last decade, social networking sites are considered “kiddy” activities that don’t deserve a second look, the same cannot be said for today. Employers are now routinely doing “background checks” by viewing pages on Multiply or Facebook. This allows potential employers a view into the life of a potential employee in a way that has never been made possible before.
What are the consequences of such “snooping” on the part of employers (or bosses)? Well, there is the usual disciplinary measure against the employee who has inappropriate pictures of himself on the Internet, as well as layoffs for more severe offenders.
A common call
The concept of employers checking out the online profiles of current employees and yet-to-be official employees started in 2001 (well, at least that’s what they say), with the increased popularization of social networking websites like Friendster, Multiply, Facebook and others.
There has been a common call for “decency”, because employers want to keep the company name pristine, and they believe that professionalism extends well beyond the physical borders of the office.
The snooping is done even by small companies and even private and government institutions, like schools. There have been many cases of teachers being questioned after appearing less-then-professional in their Facebook profiles. In a large way, social networking websites are now included in the evaluation of a person’s personality and mental well-being.
More effective than vague psychological tests, employers can now simply check the online profiles of employees to see how they are in real life. If they appear as less than deserving online, they just might get their knuckles rapped.
Control what is posted
If used properly, social networking websites are fine. The overuse, and to a certain degree, misusing it gets people in trouble. For example, there might be something wrong when employers see an employee saying “I will drink sixty beers later” on a blog post or a Plurk. Or the employee that is seen with her top off, drunk at some secluded beach party. All these online activities are considered a no-no for employers.
In a very big way, employers are training people to be more responsible and consistent in they way they build their images on the Internet. One has to be consistent if one is to succeed in any kind of work; this includes being consistently decent and toned down when it comes to social networking websites.
People don’t need to wait to be at odds with their employers before they practice a certain degree of restraint- as much as possible, confrontations of this nature should be avoided at all costs. If you do get communication about your Facebook account, you are in deep trouble already.
Legal consultants and employers everywhere have one, uniform recommendation for all: lack of restraint means conflict; unresolved conflicts means trouble for you and not for the employers.
Popularity: 7% [?]
When Myspace and Facebook were first created no one believed that they would become as popular as they are today. Social Networking is the thing of the future. It is a way to connect with people from around the world and a way to advertise the things you do and even sell. Yahoo! And Google have been feeling left out of the loop – which is why they are taking steps to update the way they do things.
create applications that work on any social network that joins Google’s open party. So far, besides Google’s Orkut social net, LinkedIn, hi5, XING, Friendster, Plaxo and Ning have joined the party.
