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An Ethical Dilemma
March 1, 2019 | Comments Off on An Ethical Dilemma
Social media gives people the chance to create a new identity, or express their current one. It is an outlet to show all and tell all, so why would it not be okay for, let’s say, employers to go searching for this identity of yours when considering hiring you?
Some people may say it is an invasion of privacy, but I say it was you who made your social media account, and it was you who posted on those accounts. If you are willing to let the public see who you are, you should we willing to let your future employer know who he or she would be hiring. If I was an employer, I would want to know if you are responsible and mature. I would not want to hire someone who would portray a bad reputation on the company/workplace.
As a nursing major, I have learned in my classes that nursing deals a lot with ethical dilemmas associated with social media. There are situations where nurses may expose patient confidentiality by posting pictures of or with the patients, by posting about information, or simply posting about an experience with a patient. These situations can result in license suspension and/or termination. As an employer of a hospital, by getting to know the applicant’s life on social media, it may prevent the hiring of someone unsuitable to exceed a positive reputation for the hospital and the association with the profession of nursing.
So, yes, I believe that is is ethical for employers to observe an applicant’s social media before hiring, because it is a way to understand the applicant’s identity that is not shown in the interview or on paper. It is a way for the employer to see how the applicant would act outside of the workplace as they are still an associated member and have the responsibility to create a good reputation.
If you were an applicant, would you feel that your privacy had been invaded if you were informed that your employer had observed your social media accounts?