Bruce Benidt
Jon Austin
tcarideo
Ellen Mrja
Mike Keliher
Joe LovelandThere is not one single legitimate explanation to justify this. Not one.
The city of Bozeman, Montana, feels as though the only way to ensure it has a complete understanding of the personalities of the folks it might hire is to include investigation of the prospective employees’ online profiles.
By asking for usernames and passwords.
The best explanation the city could muster? City attorney Greg Sullivan:
So, we have positions ranging from fire and police, which require people of high integrity for those positions, all the way down to the lifeguards and the folks that work in city hall here. So we do those types of investigations to make sure the people that we hire have the highest moral character and are a good fit for the city.
Sure, that makes sense. Look at their online profiles, then, if you believe it’ll give you a better idea of what the people are like. But you don’t need their passwords. Most of this stuff is public anyway, and if it’s not, there’s a god damn reason for it.
Want to come over and flip through my photo albums, too?
Filed under: Technology
Mike: Two quick reactions.
As stupid as this policy is, it would be even stupider for anyone whose profile name is hotasianchick_88 or dragonslayer666 to be out in the job market anyway. But, I agree, asking for passwords raises all sorts of privacy concerns. (Reaction to this reaction: “We have no privacy anymore. Get over it.” )
Second, I can recall an even more egregious invasion of privacy when I was applying for a public relations director’s position a number of years ago. The owner of the company required that finalists take some sort of personality profile test. Psychologists out there might know what test I’m talking about.
All I can remember now are some of the creepy questions it asked, such as: “I have thought of killing my father.” Or “Sometimes the radio talks directly to me.” And, the ever important and probing: “Sometimes my stools are green.”
And, yes, I got the job. So I guess I’m normal?!?
I know we talk about bullshit a lot here, but human shit just might be new territory.
Does the occasional green stool disqualify one from employment in the professional services sector?
Their main concerns could be taken care of by a simple check into the applicant’s criminal record. They’re right, in a way. The most efficient way to get to know someone is to read their mind. However, that doesn’t make it okay.
In an amusing twist, just before the policy was revoked, Facebook reported that they would be in touch with the city about the violation of their Terms of Service, according to newsy.com.