If applying for jobs, here is a tip

[robbobster]

If a political bias prevents someone from being hired, that's discrimination. It would have to be documented though of course.

 

[KrisZ]

View attachment 336172

This law means very little since it's hard to prove an employer dismissed your application based on any of the above. Corporate agents are trained to use specific language when communicating to avoid this very liability. It's a bit easier for existing employees since they may have access to internal communication proving unlawful dismissal. As an applicant, you have nothing, unless the interviewer made some questionable remarks, and it's still boils down to "he said, she said" scenario.

 

[4wd]

If a political bias prevents someone from being hired, that's discrimination. It would have to be documented though of course.

See post #61

 

[Hall]

Corporate agents are trained to use specific language when communicating to avoid this very liability. As an applicant, you have nothing, unless the interviewer made some questionable remarks, and it's still boils down to "he said, she said" scenario.

Very true and as you say, any competent HR-type person will be trained to never say anything and definitely never put it in writing as to why someone didn't get a position. That's why rejection letters are as generic as they are. Lawyers reviewed and approved the wording as well and HR will also be directed to ignore any follow-ups or questions from applicants. I'd bet anytime protected-class discrimination happens, it's because of a small employer with untrained (or dumb) management.

 

[robbobster]

Here’s a pre-interview tip:
Don’t bring your parents to the interview.

I saw beginning back in 2015-ish and evidently it’s getting worse…

https://fortune.com/2025/08/14/gen-...ought-a-parent-to-interview-research-reveals/

 

[y_p_w]

I’ve been through this with a background check. Most employers would use a service that looks through the major providers. At least services are going through red flags like illegal behavior and things that might embarrass a company.

 

[y_p_w]

I looked at my last background check, and the social media behavior report. This was what they were looking for. Not sure exactly what each one meant, like "Keywords".

Disparaging
Drug Image
Drug/Alcohol Mention
Gory Violence/Image
Keywords
Nudity Image
Prejudice
Profanity
Rude Gestures/Symbols
Threats
Weapons Image

At least this service checked Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, TikTok, and LinkedIn. I'm not sure how they deal with more or less anonymous usernames with many of these.

 

[Pablo]

Glad I'm retired. I control myself but need more "Weapons Images" for some reason.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I saw a post like this 20 years ago from an HR professional from what they saw on someones MySpace IIRC.

It was a picture of a wookie that said: "Prepare Uranus"

They didn't get the job.

 

[y_p_w]

Oh - over the years I've tried assorted stuff like looking up what to do when I got to a trade show in Vegas and the company's internet blocked my lookup of where to go dining or to watch a show. Something about gambling sites being blocked.

But in my career history I've experienced quite a few conversations about all those things that might be flagged in a social media history. We've celebrated milestones in the office with alcohol. I've seen people use all manner of profanity in the office. Even a couple of guys talking about going target shooting after work and inviting a coworker. Still - I don't believe a few mentions of flagged items will be disqualifying, but they might care more about extensive patterns.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Glad I'm retired. I control myself but need more "Weapons Images" for some reason.

You post the weapons images 1-2 years AFTER you get the job or once your performance starts to slide.

Keeps mgmt from firing you. Unless you are remote, then mgmt better make sure they are not in the whitepages lol.

 

[Vil_Riker]

If you are applying for work, make sure all your social media accounts are clean, and free of controversial posts, pics, and such. Petty online bickering in your facebook, or something else, like discussing your illegal weekend activities with your friends, etc, can, and will cost you that good new job. It amazes me, as an employer, what some people have online, while applying for work. I use a woman, who owns a small business, checking the online presence of potential employees, before hiring anyone. Some stuff she finds, blows my mind.

Do you ask them to make friends to see private posts, or are these based on public posts? If they are dumb enough to post publicly then they probably aren't going to be a value add.

 

[Pablo]

Here’s a pre-interview tip:
Don’t bring your parents to the interview.

I saw beginning back in 2015-ish and evidently it’s getting worse…

https://fortune.com/2025/08/14/gen-...ought-a-parent-to-interview-research-reveals/

Wow! What? Wait?? What?? 77%??

That must be a link to The Onion..........but no.

 

[Dave Hess]

When we were looking at hiring somebody my supervisor would look at the Facebook pages from the guys we were considering . He made snide comments about their wives or girlfriends . That came back to haunt him later ...

What if your boss looked and no FB similar to me with zero social media ?

 

[robbobster]

Wow! What? Wait?? What?? 77%??

That must be a link to The Onion..........but no.

Here’s the source of the data…looks like a lot of outlets reported on it

https://www.resumetemplates.com/nearly-half-of-gen-zers-have-mom-regularly-talk-to-their-boss/

I worked at a large ad agency at the time and, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing around 2015 when some people either brought their parent(s) to an interview, or had them on the line during a phone interview.

 

[Pablo]

Here’s the source of the data…looks like a lot of outlets reported on it

https://www.resumetemplates.com/nearly-half-of-gen-zers-have-mom-regularly-talk-to-their-boss/

I need to sit down.

I was a manager for a chunk of my career (I said heck with that in 2005) - but if I had interfaced with someone's parents, for something job related, that would have been 1000% freaky. Like what the actual is wrong with this employee weird.

 

[Dave Hess]

I need to sit down.

I was a manager for a chunk of my career (I said heck with that in 2005) - but if I had interfaced with someone's parents, for something job related, that would have been 1000% freaky. Like what the actual is wrong with this employee weird.

Immediate no hire for person bringing their parent(s) to an interview.

I understand for a 16 year old and at Chick fil A or a retail supermarket job, not in a professional work environment type job.

 

[wavinwayne]

If prospective employers went looking through my social media, they would think "Is this guy still alive? He hasn't posted anything in forever." Also, I've googled myself using my full legal name (my real name isn't Wayne) and I am pretty much a ghost online.

 

[y_p_w]

Do you ask them to make friends to see private posts, or are these based on public posts? If they are dumb enough to post publicly then they probably aren't going to be a value add.

I've heard of some prospective employers who asked for full access to someone's email accounts even though it might violate federal law.

When you enter most countries, they might be able to compel access to someone's personal electronics. I've seen this in documentaries where text messages were checked to see if someone might have been looking to work illegally.

 

[Dave Hess]

If prospective employers went looking through my social media, they would think "Is this guy still alive? He hasn't posted anything in forever." Also, I've googled myself using my full legal name (my real name isn't Wayne) and I am pretty much a ghost online.

True story.

My ex girlfriend from high school happened to see my oldest sister in Miami Beach and asked about me.
I’m surprised they even recognized each other after 30+ years.

My oldest sister went to high school with her oldest brother.
My brother went to high school with her brother.

Dumb dumb sister gives her my cellphone number and out of the blue ex GF calls me cause I wasn’t on social media and she was very interested in interrogating me to see how my life has turned out. There’s a good reason I stay off TRASH social media.