David Baffa Quoted in CBS MoneyWatch
"Facebook: Don't give passwords to employers"

Seyfarth Shaw Employee Relations partner David Baffa was quoted in CBS MoneyWatch on March 23. The article discussed the recent controversy in the news in which job applicants in Maryland were asked to submit their social networking logins and personal passwords for use in background checks.

Facebook issued a statement saying it was "a violation of Facebook's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities to share and solicit a Facebook password," and the article posits that there are potential legal issues employers may encounter, should they access social networking accounts, which could hold employers liable in employment discrimination cases.

David said, "about half of the states have some manner of a statute of the books that would seek to protect against discrimination against lawful, off-duty conduct." He points out, "The tobacco industry drove a lot of those laws. But it is something that can be applied."

Click here to read the full article: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-57403482/facebook-dont-give-passwords-to-employers/?tag=mncol;lst;1