Social Media Posts Have Detrimental Outcomes on Hiring and Firing Practices

SAN ANGELO, TX – In this day and age, being connected 24/7 is a necessity for many people. Sharing every detail of their daily lives and placing little concern to what they share publicly is the practice for many social media users. Unfortunately, users post online with the idea that their social media is their private space, and they have a right to free expression. However, that free expression has led many individuals to lose their jobs.

Social media is quickly becoming a hiring tool that has allowed companies to cut down on recruiting time, and it provides hiring managers with a quick and simple assessment of the candidate. In a Time Money article, one writer discusses a survey conducted by Jobvite, which indicates that nearly 93 percent of hiring managers check social media pages before making hiring decisions. They look primarily at Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. According to the survey, 66 percent of employers used Facebook and 52 percent searched Twitter as a tool to learn more about their perspective hires. Also, just as employers are diligent in researching their new hires, many continue to monitor their employees during employment as well.

Many people are under the misconception that an employer has no right to question what an employee posts on his or her private social media pages, but the number of companies that check and monitor the accounts of new hires and prospective employees is on the rise. Just because an account is private does not mean that an employer cannot gain access to what's posted. Of course, in places like the U.S., everyone is subject to their privacy and the first amendment that promises free speech; but people, when working for businesses, are acting as representatives. Not to mention, in the world of retweets and screenshots, nothing is truly private.

Case in point, San Angelo’s most well-known mishap is the scandal that led Ex-Councilman Bill Richardson to resign. Even though he maintained his Facebook was private and only meant to be seen by his friends, his posts, deemed inflammatory by the public, were seen by many and incited a major community effort in assuring his resignation.

Because of the detrimental nature of social media, most companies are adding social media guidelines to their work polices. Now more than ever, it is crucial for individuals to become aware of what they share with the rest of the world, especially when they are posting complaints or grievances against a company.

Erin Medely, project director at Workforce Solutions of the Concho Valley, provided a few do's and don'ts that employees can take into consideration when they are posting on their social media platforms. The are as follows:

• Assume everyone can see your post/pictures.
• Adjust your privacy settings:
  • So you can review what your friends can tag you in.
  • So your information is not available for EVERYONE to see.
• Be careful what you share – sometimes the name of the “source” is foul.
• Be aware of company policies regarding social media.
• Be aware that you represent your company & its culture when you are off.
• Remember wearing your work shirt or uniform in pics could be an issue even when you are off the clock.
• Remember pictures & posts are forever…

DON’T

• Talk about your current employer.
• Talk about people you work with.
• Talk about your customers (includes patients, consumers, whatever your company calls its customers).
• Use foul language.
• Talk about politics.
• Talk about religion.
• Post pictures of yourself under the influence.
• Post pictures of yourself partially clothed.

"You are just a Google search away from being a public example," Medley said. "Many employers will see what you post before even scheduling interviews – it could affect your ability to find and keep a job." 

The following are a few examples of employees who lost their jobs because of a social media post.

One of the most publicized firings was the one of Justine Sacco, who worked as a senior director of communications at IAC, the media company that owns Tinder. On her way to South Africa, she tweeted: “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!”

Unknown to her, the tweet went viral while she was on her flight and she was soon fired for her comments.

Gilbert Gottfried, a comedian who at one time played the voice of the Aflac duck, was fired after making jokes on Twitter regarding the victims of the 2011 tsunami in Japan that killed thousands. Gottfried tweeted: "Japan is really advanced. They don't go to the beach. The beach comes to them.” Only one hour after this tweet, and several others had come out, many of his followers showed concern and distaste for his bad jokes; he was fired as the Aflac duck.

Drunk tweeting claimed another victim in Dallas, radio producer Mike Bacsik, who was also a former MLB pitcher. In 2010 the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks, which led Bacisk to tweet out: “Congrats to all the dirty Mexicans in San Antonio.” Suffice it to say, this drunk mishap cost him his job.

Lastly, but not least, is Conner Riley, who lost her job offer before she began her job. The recent college graduate had been offered a job from Cisco, a California tech company, in 2009. Riley boasted about the offer while also speaking unfavorably of the company. She tweeted the following: "Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work." A fellow Cisco employee responded to her tweet and assured her that he would make sure to pass her sentiments along to Human Resources and Riley lost her job offer.

These are just some of the examples that people want to be conscientious of when posting online. What goes online is never truly private, and employers are watching. A simple joke or rant can result can in the loss of a job.

Note: Stories appeared on an article published by Entrepreneur.com on March 16, 2016.