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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Help! My Boss Friend Requested Me On Facebook

Would you accept a Facebook friend request from your boss? Could it hurt your career if you don’t? Even worse, can it hurt your job security if you do? According to a new survey, many workers are finding themselves faced with this dilemma and are feeling pressured to click “accept.”

“Making the Connection: How Facebook is Changing the Supervisory Relationship” survey from Russell Herder found younger workers (age 18 to 34) are more likely to be Facebook friends with their bosses at 26%, compared to just 10% of those 35 or older. In addition, 38% of survey respondents said their bosses initiated the relationship and 29% felt “pressured” to accept the request.

And let’s say you are on a job interview and the person behind the desk asks you for your Facebook login and password, should you object? Also getting media attention is the debate over whether such companies that ask potential hires for their social media login information are out of bounds. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) have called for an immediate end to this practice, and have asked the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Justice to look into the matter.

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Uh, ditch facebook people!

Anonymous said...

All you do is walk up to your boss and explain to him that "friends" are just that. Your relationship with your boss is a professional business relationship, and NOT a friendship.

It's that simple.

Anonymous said...

Our supervisor likes to know what's going on in the lives of her employees. She has friended most of us,the smart ones didnt accept. I do feel fb friends with your boss crosses the lines. It like going to happy hour, birthday parties or movies with your boss....not a good move. Actually, I don't believe its politically correct.

Anonymous said...

To any owner / president / COE / supervisor... do us all a favor and make some friends outside of the office! I laugh at your jokes and listen to your banter, etc, WHEN I'M AT WORK. Don't force yourself into my personal life. If you think your subordinates want to be FB friends with you, you're either naive or pompous.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately I believe Al Sharpton is creating racists. If we are not careful, If President Obama does not assume better control and be more unbiased, I fear a race riot in this country. Lots of people will be hurt and Al Sharpton and President Obama ultimately will be to blame.