YOU’RE FIRED!!!!
On Sunday I had a staff meeting for my job at a Nando’s restaurant, The whole workforce had to attend and one on the items on the agenda was Facebook. At first, I was surprised, our meetings usually consist of talks about rotas and staff parties but this period, Facebook was high up on the priorities. I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to disclose why Facebook featured so prominently, kind of ironic that I’m blogging about it really.
It is no secret that people have been fired from their jobs because of incidents on Facebook. There’s a fantastic article that shows the rise of social networking and the people who have lost their jobs along the way.
On researching for this blog I found the shocking statistic that 60% of potential employers will google an applicants name before taking them on and you have to consider that a potential employer, looking at your drunken photos may be a little put off. I don’t want to be the nagging presence of your online life, but once again I come with a warning, Facebook, if used recklessly, can well and truely, ruin your life.
There’s a little something to brighten up your day! Happy Social Networking!
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A Very Public Privacy 
Hi. A well written and thoughtful blog. As a someone who doesn’t and has no intention of using any social networking site I do think that there a lot of people who not only waste a huge amount of time but totally misunderstand the implications of what they put on these sites. It’s only a matter of time before they go out of fashion, and part of the reason for that will be the monitoring of them by a multitude of interested parties either to find out what shampoo you might wish to buy or other far more sinister reasons. I for one can’t wait. People might start talking to each other again.
A very good point. I also feel that many people place far too much emphasis on communicating through the internet and as a result we are spending less time actually talking to each other.
As an employee of the NHS there have been several incidences where confidentiality has been breached on social networking sites, this is a disaplinary offence and could lead to an employee being dismissed. In the course of an investigation about an alleged incident evidence would have to be sort, so if you had been discussing issues with your colleques then thats the evidence.
It’s good to see that government organisations like the NHS have such strict measures in place to protect our sensitive information. I for one wouldn’t have it any other way!
“Shocking” that 60% of prospective employers would look an applicant up on Facebook? What’s shocking is that the number is so low. HR should always do this as a matter of routine. If you don’t want them to see something, don’t publish it – and putting it on a social networking site is publishing.
That’s a very interesting point John. Many people would argue that it is an invasion of privacy for potential employers to look at your social networking page, and it’s contents is somewhat irrelevant from your ability to do the prospective job. If the social network user posts their life for all to see, can the employer really be blamed for taking an interest?
If I myself was looking for potential employees, Facebook would probably be the first place I would go for a deeper insight into the personality of the person, rather than the official “face” many people put on specifically for interviews.
It’s not just employers that look at Social Networking sites. A friend of mine was run over in a hit-and-run incident last year, which resulted in significant reconstructive surgery to her foot. It was captured on CCTV and there were 6 eye witnesses. The insurance company googled her name and found pictures of her smiling and her statuses to be upbeat and are using this as ammunition to say she has not been affected and essentially drop her claim, or at least significantly reduce it.
That really is terrible Rebecca, a smiling face through a distressing sign is usually a sign of strength, not a sign of fakery. Is such investigation by insurance companies a step too far?
I’m sure I have read of people being caught commiting benefit fraud through Facebook etc. In this kind of case i’d have to admit that I’m in favour, but how do we know where to draw the line?
Thank you for your comment