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Two weeks ago, we posted on how employers viewing employees’ or job applicants’ Facebook pages could violate the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (“GINA”), which prohibits employers from obtaining or using certain types of genetic information.  We didn’t know the issue of employers viewing applicants’ Facebook pages — and particularly requiring their passwords — was about to BLOW UP.

Since our post, the issue has been the subject of Congressional hearings, proposed legislation, a statement by Facebook, and lots of articles, blogs and tweets.  Many have pointed out that requiring a Facebook password (1) may be illegal, (2) is an invasion of privacy, and (3) gets employers involved in issues they usually seek to avoid.  While these points are true (and are briefly explained below), the real question is:  Does demanding a Facebook password really serve an employer’s best interests?  Put simply, is it a good idea?
Continue Reading Who Said Demanding Facebook Passwords Is A Good Idea?

Online social media presents great rewards – and potential risks – for employers.  With more than 500 million active users on Facebook alone, there is no question that a large percentage of employees in every workforce use some form of online social networking.  Even when information on social media networks is not publicly available (such as when employees use “friends only” privacy settings in a social media network such as Facebook), employees often grant access to (“friend”) their supervisors, many of whom also use the same social media.  Likewise, there is no doubt that social media use goes on during work hours and at work – even where employers takes steps to restrict this behavior. 
Continue Reading Does Federal Genetic Privacy Law Prohibit Employers from Monitoring their Employees on Facebook?