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HR says "Edit your Facebook page"
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
Canada
July 29, 2009 12:18pm CST
My daughter has a friend who is working her first full-time job - at a telemarketing company doing telephone surveys. At work the other day, she was called to Human Resources. She had no idea why but, when she sat down, she was presented with a report -- about her Facebook page. It seems the HR department has people who are specifically tasked with looking into every employee's online presence. The girl was asked to remove certain pictures from her page. Some, I agree they can ask her to remove... others I'm really not sure. I guess laws vary from place to place and country to country but here's what they told her. Because she is listed in the company's searchable employee directory and her Facebook page bears her real name, they wanted her to:
- Remove the pictures where she is wearing clothing that has visible company logos or name (this I can understand... I believe they have the right to not allow their logo/name to appear in any pictures they deem "inappropriate")
- There was a photograph of the girl vomiting in a park (she was drunk, of course, and someone had found it amusing to take her picture... why she would post that, I don't know... but again... she's 19 (legal age here in Canada), so yeah). There was also a photograph that she had been tagged in (she didn't post it, someone else did and identified her). It seems that she didn't know she was being photographed because she isn't even looking in the direction of the camera. However, enough of her face is visible that she can be identified - and she is clearly topless (again... 19... poor decision-making, I'd say). Anyway, the HR person strongly "suggested" that she should "consider" telling that friend to remove the photo.
The justification she was given for the report is that the items on it do not represent the image the company wishes its employees to project and, in no uncertain terms, they will not allow the company name or logo to be tied to anyone's online profile pages. I would think they should have a formal policy that states all this stuff and that employees agree to when they are hired, just to be sure that nothing improper is being done on either side (employee or employer)... but I have no personal experience with this so I'd love to hear people's thoughts. Has this ever happened to you? Do you think about your profiles on various websites and what they project about you, especially if you're applying for a job? How would you react if you received the kind of report this girl received?
3 people like this
15 responses
• United States
31 Jul 09
I have had a similar experience a few years ago with the company that I was working for at the time. Though it did not involve social web pages, it did involve things that happened outside the work place.
Our whole crew would head to the local bar after our grueling 4 day 12 hour shift for what we liked to refer to as "safety meetings". We would all talk about what was going on in our various departments, the bosses, the people .... you know what I mean. We invited our crew chiefs to go along also, and they did from time to time.
One day I was called to the "principals" office for a chat with the VP and my crew chief. I had no idea what was up. When I got in the office, they started questioning my about things that were said OUTSIDE the work place about certain people. I was kinda of confused, and asked why I was being asked these questions. It turned out that one of the people who attended our little gatherings went back to work and told the boss that we were degrading the workplace and ragging on EVERYONE!!!
I was shocked. The bosses asked me about it again. I told them that what I do outside the workplace was my personal business and I would not discuss it. They continued on asking. I held my ground, again saying it was not their business to butt into my personal life. They kept hounding me until I asked if I needed my attorney to be present. At this point I was informed that I would receive a week off from work WITH pay. I shrugged and said OK. The other person involved was given a week off also, but WITHOUT pay.
So this is what I believe... What you do OUTSIDE of work, should never be judged by your employers. You have a right to privacy, in your home and anywhere outside the workplace.
If employers are worried about company image, then it should be in writing, read and signed at the time of hiring. That is in regards to any company logos, and conduct wile wearing any company clothing.
Other than that... they should mind their own business, and worry about more important things, like running their company.
3 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
31 Jul 09
Wow... gotta love a suck-up :( Oddly, I have a similar story, strawberryice. I work online exclusively but, even so, depending on the various projects, I've either had a staff or been part of a staff. It's not always the isolated work that many assume it to be. Anyway, there was a large group of remote workers who were contracting through a company in NYC. That company wanted to change some of its policies regarding independent contractors, wanted to take some of the functions in-house (and, if they did so, many of the independents would have no work at all) and more. I didn't know but some of the workers held an online meeting (at this point in time, I was a remote manager so they excluded me and any other management from the meeting). They discussed all the potential changes and some incredibly nasty things were said about the company and its owners and many unfounded accusations were made. Well, lo and behold, someone in the group logged the whole meeting and forwarded it to the corporation. I can't tell you how bad it got after that.
I'm really careful what I say around coworkers... no matter how friendly we are and no matter where we are physically having the conversation. I guess I trust people but only so much, you know? Human nature dictates that many people are out for their own gain and will do anything and step on anyone to get what they want. I'm sorry it happened to you but admire that you really stood your ground.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
8 Aug 09
And you know what else, olydove? In my experience anyway, they rarely get rewarded by management for that kind of behavior (beyond maybe an initial thank you) and, sometimes, in the long run it backfires because they are no longer respected by their co-workers. People don't trust them, don't want to work with them, and it generally puts management in a position of having to do something about them later on.
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
31 Jul 09
I'm guessing you don't hang out with the tattle-tale anymore :) I can't believe they would pass that on! I mean, I've heard people complaining at my past jobs about all sorts of things but never once thought to tell on them about it. Have you changed your "going out after work" behaviour now?
2 people like this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
29 Jul 09
I've certainly heard of this. Just yesterday morning, there was talk on this and there was this professional speaking. She said that it should not affect work reputation and employers normally won't check, so that is something that I was thinking. If the company could look into social networking sites of others, that is really something to think about.
Factors that should be thought are:
Never to use the real names on Facebook. Should have stick to using nicknames and to reveal full names only to contact lists. Since nothing is pretty much a secret online, unfortunately, should an employer catch someone putting on feisty pictures according to them, that person would have to remove those.
I am pretty much neutral about this. But if something like that happens to me and I am being asked to remove pictures which I think are decent ones, I would really think hard about my own freedom of 'behavior' online. I suppose the non-decent pictures might provide some image and integrity things to them. Anyway, I'm still thinking about this issue pretty much. Feels like it's a growing trend for companies to look out for social networking sites of employees.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
30 Jul 09
Wow, I wasn't aware that not using your real name could get your account suspended... that's interesting information, thanks. It used to be that people never used their real name online and now it's pervasive for some sites and things like gmail addresses and such.
1 person likes this
@dreamr802 (985)
• United States
30 Jul 09
Problem with using not your full name and a nickname of facebook could get you suspended. My sister used a nickname and they told her she had to put her real name. But also on facebook, you can't see the person's profile without being their friend, on myspace you can...so I don't know how people are looking at the profiles because no one that is not on my list can see my profile at all.
2 people like this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
30 Jul 09
That's right.. lots of sites are asking for real names and stuff like that. They want to be stress-free from future attacks; like hackers and etc..
It could be a win-win situation and sometimes lose-win too. We just need to be extra careful then..
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
30 Jul 09
I think that sounds reasonable personally, if she is representing the company then she must have an appropriate page on FaceBook. The other thing I could think of though, is that she could possibly set the page to private (can you do that? I don't have Facebook so I'm not sure). That way only her friends could see the pictures and it wouldn't matter to the company.
At the office where I work we don't have company shirts, but we are not allowed to write about office drama on our blogs. If caught, it is asked that the blog pages with the content be removed. But if you set the blog to private they'd never know.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
31 Jul 09
Several people at the office where I work have been warned about blogging about office drama. At least one girl was fired for doing it repeatedly.
I used to have a blog before the site went down that I used, but mine was always just a private blog that only a few selected friends could view. So there would have been no way for employers to know. Not that I wanted to think or write about work outside the office anyway!
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
31 Jul 09
Good point, Pigglies and thank you! It's true that blogging has gotten people in a lot of hot water with employers. Lots and lots of people have "daily" blogs, I know, where they just write about whatever happens during the day - but I guess they should temper their rantings where the employer / company is concerned. Has anyone at your workplace already been warned for that?
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
31 Jul 09
Oh I agree completely! LOL Once I'm done with work, I really want to be DONE with it. Thanks for your response about someone definitely getting fired -- I don't know but... if I was warned for something at work, I sure wouldn't do it repeatedly unless I didn't care if they fired me.
@kate635 (126)
• Philippines
30 Jul 09
We should all be aware that the internet is not a safe place, so we should always take extra precaution when uploading anything that will directly link to us and tarnish our image. When signing in to a particular social network, there are preferences/settings where we can choose who would be able to access/see our content or page. It is advisable that when you are uploading personal pictures to just limit it to persons you trust.
In the case of the girl you have just mentioned, the company was right in its decision and they must have already learned from that experience to include such in their company policy. For the girl, I believe she has already seen her topless picture, but did not make the first move to have it deleted. Even if she was not the one who uploaded it, she should have made the effort since it was one of her friends who posted; unless, otherwise she also liked beeing seen by the public that way.
In using the internet, we should always be careful so that we may not regret later.
I believe, I would not be in such position as that girl, as I always make sure, my profile is protected.
1 person likes this
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
30 Jul 09
In all of my education classes they have told us to put all of that stuff on private or friends only because questionable content could keep us from getting jobs as teachers.
I would be glad that they gave me the chance to fix my page without writing me up.
Is it fair? Maby not, but what you put online is a representation of yourself and there are somethings that do not need to be public
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
30 Jul 09
I happened to have a conversation with one of the teachers at our high school about Facebook. He had a page because he used it to keep in touch with family living out of the country and such. He said that his students started finding his profile and were trying to friend him. He gave up his Facebook completely because he said he didn't want to hurt the kids' feelings by not accepting their friendship but he felt it was very inappropriate for a teacher to have that kind of contact with them. I can certainly understand why people such as teachers would be concerned that their online activities aren't misinterpreted in any way. Thanks for contributing this, okkidokitokki!
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
30 Jul 09
Amen to that! You've worked hard to have a valuable career and to have it ruined over something like social networking would be ludicrous. I think restricting your contact to those 18 and over is a smart choice to make. If the options are available, it's sensible to use them. A lot of the privacy options make sense too -- but the generation that has grown up not knowing a world without cell phones and social networks doesn't seem feel the need to keep anything private; everything is for public consumption.
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
30 Jul 09
I do not know about facebook but MySpace has a privacy function that blocks all users under 18 from even requesting to be friends. That is the only reason I opened a page with them. It is just not worth my job.
1 person likes this
@aschip (166)
• India
30 Jul 09
I dont know about laws in US, but I think what she does on any social n/w sites is her personal matter.
Even if it is a company logo or she wearing a tshirt with the company logo or whatever, they can not ask her to take them down.
Company can ask you not to use FB or social n/w sites from the office during office hours but what she has outside office is her personal matter.
You can not track some person's "online presence" legally, I think it is "stalking" !!
Tomorrow they might come up to her and say she can not have a person from a competitor company as her boyfriend ...lols...
I think she should look for some other job.
Btw make sure she puts this on her facebook profile so that other people know what kind of policies this company has.
I think she is being harassed, instead of asking us, consult a lawyer !
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
30 Jul 09
Actually, aschip, I see it this way -- if someone puts information/photos/etc on a public website and they don't take any steps to make that information private or only viewable to certain individuals or groups, then it's not stalking. If you make it available, people can and will look at it. What they do AFTER they see it, though, is what I'm trying to understand at this point. I do agree that what you do outside the office is your own personal business and, as I was mentioning to another member in this discussion, it used to be that no one would even KNOW what you were doing outside the office unless you told them. Now people post confirmation by putting up all kinds of photos! LOL
Companies have lots of rules. I just believe that they should tell you what those rules are when you are going to accept a job with them. Then, you know what you're dealing with. I laughed at your comment about not being able to have a boyfriend from a competitor company! Then, I remembered a corporation that I worked for that had rules about competitors. I was not allowed to leave my job to go and work for a direct competitor in the same field (even if it was a better job for me, better pay, whatever). I would have to have left the company for a minimum of one full year before accepting a position with a competitor. Now, having said that, I have no idea how they could enforce that... I mean, how would they know who you are working for unless someone told them? But it was still written in the company policies and I had to agree to be bound by them when I accepted the job.
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
31 Jul 09
The short story is - people need to make their Facebooks PRIVATE and only let friends in. Honestly I think it's crazy that someone out there wastes their time looking in to stuff like this for every employee, but if a person is stupid enough to have these type of things on their public profile, they deserve whatever they get. I have nothing to hide or nothing that I would consider "inapproprate" on my facebook, but still I keep it private because there is no reason the world needs to see my pages.
Honestly though, situations like this just go to show how many teens are idiots when it comes to the internet. Something that would have been considered a major embarrasment years ago is now-a-days something you post on your profile! My husband and I noticed how many people "air their dirty laundry" on facebook. I've found out about friends fighting with their husbands, and other such personal issues, because they post EVERYTHING to their profile! Personally I tell my personal business to those who need to know and that's it. Facebook is reserved for fun random comments, photos, and making plans.
Regardless of what is on the page, all I know is that a non-friend can't see anything except my main photo and that's it. I don't add anyone I don't know, and even with people I do know I'm careful who I add. It's just smarter that way. These teens have got to learn a little bit more about the importance of privacy.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
2 Aug 09
You won't hear a word of disagreement from me, vivasuzi! 
For most young people, everything is for public consumption these days... from photos to recounts of their latest "exploits." You're so right that people even fight back and forth on Facebook and I just don't get the need for that visibility. Privacy options are available for a reason and people don't seem to want to use them. In the great popularity contest that is social networking, it seems they don't want to limit their potential number of friends (heck Tila Tequila ended up on tv by virtue of her ridiculously high friend count!). A little more "smart" could sure go a long way when it comes to what gets shared online... and I guess sometimes it does take a shake-up like this to make some people realize it!
For most young people, everything is for public consumption these days... from photos to recounts of their latest "exploits." You're so right that people even fight back and forth on Facebook and I just don't get the need for that visibility. Privacy options are available for a reason and people don't seem to want to use them. In the great popularity contest that is social networking, it seems they don't want to limit their potential number of friends (heck Tila Tequila ended up on tv by virtue of her ridiculously high friend count!). A little more "smart" could sure go a long way when it comes to what gets shared online... and I guess sometimes it does take a shake-up like this to make some people realize it!
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
29 Jul 09
I am not sure if I would like HR telling me to edit my page but if the friend had these things out there before she was hired, she is lucky she was hired. I know people in HR that are looking at MySPace and Facebook among others before people are hired. They feel that the person they see on the internet maybe a more honest representation of the person than the resume or what they saw on the interview. They maybe right. A person who has many pictures of them in a state of intoxication may be someone who calls in sick or comes to work intoxicated or hung over.
Kids and I don't care what their age must realize that something that goes out in cyberspace is out there forever.
I agree the kid should have been forewarned but I can't say that I disagree with the company based on what i have seen on these types of sites.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
29 Jul 09
I agree with you wholeheartedly, Debs_place! This is why I'm confused on the issue, quite frankly. I, too, know that there are lots of companies that are googling job applicants and looking at their overall online presence on sites like Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, all of them. Anyone applying for work in this tough economy, particularly, might want to be sure that their online appearance is in line with the types of companies they'd apply to or the kind of work they hope to do - because a lot of them DO look. Companies have a lot of choice in candidates and, as you've explained, they will definitely form opinions based on what they are able to see. I think this is why I'm surprised she is only getting this report now. If they were going to check, why wouldn't they have done so in the application phase instead of after they hired her, you know what I mean?
Oh and you are exactly right in what you said... there are so many people (not just kids - I know adults that are doing the same things) that don't understand that most websites are not private places. Anything they post, comments, photos, all of it, is forever. Having a private profile page doesn't mean your photos will not be seen by others. There's nothing to stop a friend from posting the same photo to a non-private profile or a whole other site. Once it's posted, it's out there for good - and out of the original poster's control.
Thanks for sharing your ideas about this! Most appreciated :)
@Pleiades (846)
• United States
31 Jul 09
I've heard of something like that happening. A friend of mine was asked to pull down some of her pictures because they looked too...racy and she was working at a camp for kids. I can understand that because it wasn't the adults that found her page, it was the kids. Yikes!
As for the one in your discussion I can almost understand that too. She had her name connected with the company and was seen in a photo that wasn't rated G for general audience.
Company image is everything...just keep that in mind.
*Pleiades
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
31 Jul 09
Wow - I responded to you earlier, Pleiades, and even saw it posted but then there was some glitch with the website... I came back to continue responding to people and see that there is now no comment to you! Eek... so I re-type LOL
For people who work in positions of authority with young people, I agree that it's critical to be aware of one's online presence, just as those same people take care to conduct themselves appropriately in person. I think it's important not to assume that kids may be "too young" to see or find things online. I mean Facebook, since we're discussing that platform, has a 13 and up policy for creating an account, as do many sites... but kids are notorious for lying about their age and many are online much younger. Plus, they probably have friends or siblings with accounts too. Thank you for sharing a valuable reminder!
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
30 Jul 09
Hi thinkingoutloud, the HR department is right in these two instances.
Since both incidents involved various international laws, the company is right to take action, so that violation of law does not occur.
The company logos and name are not for use in non-commercial purpose, and logos and name are protected by business law and trademarks.
As for the second instance about the girl vomiting, there is such law about privacy or something. That's why all those paid-for-images site advice to have model release form ready. Unless your daughter's friend has the necessary document, then she is protected. Otherwise the girl caught in camera can sue your daughter's friend for volating her rights or something.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
31 Jul 09
Thank you very much, scheng1! I really do believe, after all of this good discussion so far, that the company logo situation is absolutely the clearest and easiest part of the situation because they do have the right to object to any use of their logo that they deem is offensive or inappropriate.
@onemomsmission (60)
• United States
29 Jul 09
I had heard some companies were checking facebook, myspace etc. before and after hiring people. Some people aren't hired because of what they find ahead of time. What I don't think is fair is that they hired her then took her in there and told her this stuff. Like you said 19 year olds post some silly pictures that makes you scratch your head and say what were they thinking!!
Another thing is because it beared her real name who is to say someone else doesn't have the same name. They knew who she was because they knew what she looked like. Someone searching their database wouldn't know if it was her or not unless they posted a picture of her on their data base and she would have to sign something when she was hired saying it was ok to put her name and picture on a public database.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
29 Jul 09
Oh definitely, onemomsmission... companies do check now. My friend's son is studying and training to be a police officer. One of the first things they told him in his information packet was that he was not allowed to have his Facebook page. He's had one for years but followed all their requests and requirements to the letter. He is a very serious young man about what he wants as his career in law enforcement. Interestingly, just this past week, he was "green lighted", as it were, that he can have his page back up.
You make a good point about them associating her simply by her name. If you search out a name on Facebook or any social networking site, you're right -- you'll probably get pages of hits with people of the same name. So it does seem heavy-handed if they believe people will automatically associate this one girl with their company by her name alone. I appreciate your comments!
@allisonbrk (155)
• United States
30 Jul 09
My company has been doing this as well although for a lot more petty reasons. One of the higher-ups in the district got fired for complaining about work on his facebook (understandable... but still) and my boss advised myself and other employees to remove the company's name from our facebook page to prevent it happening to us should we say or post anything that *might* give HR reason to look into it and potentially eliminate our positions. Granted before I even started to apply for jobs I removed any pictures and information that might seem to degrade me in the eyes of potential employers and I have not nor will I ever complain about my company on a public forum despite that everyone complains about their job from time to time. The internet is not the place for that.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
31 Jul 09
allisonbrk, thanks for lending more confirmation to the discussion in the way of showing that people are definitely getting fired for their Facebook pages. From what you've described, it seems at your company they focus on the things that involve company trademarks or any kind of negativity around the company name? Have you heard anything about warnings regarding personal photos or other information on the pages? I would do exactly what you did and make sure to straighten up my online presence, too, if I were applying for jobs right now... it makes so much sense to do something so easy that could possibly avoid a lot of future problem.
@rj4pau (215)
• Malaysia
30 Jul 09
For me Facebook details are the owner's own right to disclose. But then, if the pictures or information might in a way defame the company where she works, this can be very subjective. Pictures that suggest negative things about the company should not in the first place displayed unless accidently. The only thing for the company to monitor on it's employees' Facebook details is the 'time-stamped' stating when did the employee updated the activities which might had been done during working hours ie: the employee is not doing his/her jobs during the stipulated time.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
30 Jul 09
You know, you're right rj4pau... I've always been amazed at how much time people can devote to the internet while they are at work. I am self-employed so I am able to check in here at myLot or visit other sites whenever I choose because I'm working in my own office. However, I know when I was in a corporate setting, I would never have had unlimited hours to be online with all the other work I had to do. Not to mention that a couple of companies I worked for (as an employee or a consultant) blocked access to social networking sites and all the instant messaging clients anyway. Also, no checking webmail accounts during the workday (so no hotmail, yahoo or aim - at the time). If you needed to do research that was work-related and the site you wanted was blocked, you had to submit a request, approved by your superior, stating the reason you needed to have access and they would grant it only to the employee that was approved. Very strict policies.
@dianatapu (42)
• United States
30 Jul 09
I agree with some of this things, but sometimes, I think that the everyday privacy is taking from us in this days, credit check, backround check, they are even cheking on you, on internet. It is ok with me , I dont have anything to hide, but that this is way too far, this is just my opinion. I used to work in a very conservative company, but at lest after work I could be myself.
@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
29 Jul 09
that kind of thing have never happened to me.
i think if you are working in a reputable company you would not want your image to be bad offline or online right? and companies have to protect their interest too so no client will back out if they see that their employees are not that respectful, with pics like that posted online.
yeah i agree with you, there should be some kind of agreement before hiring someone and have them sign it, that is to make sure that employees will always be careful on what they post online, so the company's image will not be jeopardized.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
29 Jul 09
I agree, jayrene. I imagine that, especially because this is her first job, the girl certainly doesn't want to feel that she is disrespecting her employer and, either way, I think some of those images shouldn't really be on a public profile anyway. But some young people have a considerable lack of foresight about what they put online, too. They share so much personal information and such and never give it a second thought. I'm not sure the employer is within their bounds asking her to take things down but, if nothing else, it might make her a little more sensitized to what she is making available. In the long run, that will be good for her AND the employer. Thanks so much for sharing your opinion! :)
