Should Employers Have Access to an Applicant’s Social Media Accounts?
AlexanderG PR Principal Alex Greenwood was interviewed about a proposed Kansas law to thwart attempts by “employers in at least five states asking job candidates for their usernames and passwords so interviewers could browse their profiles prior to making a hire.” Greenwood expressed his concern about the practice–noting that federal regulations prohibit employers from asking applicants for such personal data.
Excerpt:
Social media consultant Alex Greenwood said social websites are becoming a quick and easy way for employers to keep tabs on workers or weed out applicants.
“A lot of employers are looking for any reason they can to disqualify an applicant in favor of someone else, and if you have a pretty crazy thing pop up on social media, then that may be the thing that knocks you out of consideration,” Greenwood said.
