Chapter 11 Case Study - Managing Human Resource Systems

Purpose

The purpose of this case is to consider whether a company should use information gained from an applicant's social media to make hiring decisions. How would you feel if you got rejected for a job because of what you posted on social media last night?

To Facebook or Not To Facebook

For the past six months, you've been heading a hiring committee in charge of hiring a new division manager. It's been a grueling processfiltering through thousands of applications, seemingly endless meetings and discussions debating people's qualifications, so many interviews in different cities that it's hard to remember whom you met and where, and even more debates about who should be flown to your headquarters for a day of final interviews.

But it's almost over now. After so many interviews, meetings, and discussions the committee has settled on a candidate that everyone thinks is ideal for the jobIvy-league educated, lots of management experience, a great personality, driven to succeed, willing to learn etc. He was near the top of your list when you began this process six months ago, and here he is now, in first place at the finish line.

You head into the last hiring committee meeting with lots of relief. Not only are you happy that you found the right person for the job, but you're really glad that this meeting is just going be a formality. No more debates or arguments about applicants' work experiences, education, or hobbies. Just walk on in, take a quick vote, and then make a call with the job offer.

But as you walk into the committee meeting, there's a strange vibe. Some people look quite worried, whereas others are just angry. When you ask what's going on, one of the committee members responds that in the past few days, she added the final candidate as a friend on Facebook, and what she found on his profile was quite disturbing. There were several photos of him passed out on the sidewalk after drinking too much. Other photos showed him smoking marijuana at a friend's apartment. And then there's the languagealmost all of his posts are filled with obscenities.

After seeing all of this, half the committee wants to go with another candidate. They can't imagine that this is the kind of person they want leading your company's most important division. The other half of the committee thinks it's not a big deal at all. They believe that how he spends his personal time has absolutely no reflection on his ability to manage, and they're angry that committee members would try to use it against him.

So here you are, faced with a split (and angry) committee. They're looking to you to make or break the deadlockshould we hire this guy or move on to someone else?

Questions

1. What decision would you make? Would you hire this person or re-open the search? Why? Be specific. Refer to company culture, whether or not employees influence the company's reputation, and hiring team trust and respecting their input.

2. In your opinion, are companies justified in using an applicant's social media accounts when considering them for a job? Specifically, discuss the issue of privacy and what a company should consider when considering a job offer. Define "biodata" and whether you believe social media content is included.

3.Do you believe that a company should be concerned with how a potential employee spends his or her personal time? Is there a relationship between how an employee spends their personal life and their job performance? Is there a relationship between how an employee conducts themselves in public and company reputation? Be thorough in your answer.

4.What role does diversity and inclusion play in this decision, especially considering any potential biases that may arise from evaluating social media content? Provide examples.

5.If working alone, use an incognito browser to check on your social media accounts. All of them! If working with a partner, ask them to try to find your social media accounts (using an incognito browser if you're already linked). What can you see about yourself? What might an employer think? Were you inspired to change any settings, posts, pictures, etc.? Why or why not?Include a screenshot of at least one of your social platforms.