The dangers of Facebook
24/11/2009
The Law Society has warned employers against using social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace to vet job candidates, because doing so could lead to discrimination claims. The advice was issued as part of the society's nationwide information campaign "Help, I need somebody", which encouraged consumers to seek legal advice from a solicitor when necessary. The Employment Practices Data Protection Code allows vetting where there is a significant risk involved to the employer, clients, customers or others; but employers should not rely on information gleaned from the sites, as it could be unreliable.
Law Society Employment Law Committee chair John Morris said: "Using these sites to canvass more information about an employee or an interview candidate is potentially risky for an employer. For example, it is possible to obtain information about a person's sexual orientation or religious beliefs that can impact or is perceived to impact on the decision made to recruit or not recruit that person - this can lead to discrimination claims."
The society also warned employees of the risk of befriending employers on social networking sites and urged people to use the privacy settings available.
