Comments on: Can You Use Google to Pre-Screen Employees?

By: EmployeeScreen » Blog Archive » Sage Advice Regarding the Internet & Background Checks

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:13:51 +0000

[...] stumbled on this blog posting on Entrepreneur.com concerning the use of google to screen employees. I think this is great advice for the most part. The only question I would raise is that even if [...]

By: Can You Use Google to Pre-Screen Employees? - Background Check and Investigation Forum

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:03:56 +0000

[...] Planet Earth, you�re too dumb to be hired, right? So whatever an employer finds is fair game, yes? Can You Use Google to Pre-Screen Employees? | Making It Legal __________________ Employment Screening Background Check [...]

By: Robert Capwell

Robert Capwell — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:15:37 +0000

I concur that issues centered around potential discrimination and the use of such information within the screening process is a primary concern. Secondly, most of these sites provide a privacy statement and specific parameters for use of information contained within for the private use of their members. If a lawsuit is brought about by the candidate, the employer could possibly have a tougher time defending the use of such information within permissible use and in accordance with the creators of the site. Thirdly, is this information accurate and how do you confirm information without other identifiers to weed out common names?

By: Nick Fishman

Nick Fishman — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:50:27 +0000

Great insight and even better advice. The use of such information is certainly an emerging trend among employers and many are beginning to ask about whether the information found can be used when making a hiring decision. Many just assume that it is legal and are taking a significant risk. I would have to believe that even if there was a policy in place for checking such information, the argument could always be raised that subjective or impressible criteria was used when the adverse decision was made.