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Employer Uses Facebook To Snag 'Sick' Worker

Posted by Gayle Kesten Tuesday, Apr 28, 2009, 11:00 AM ET

I realize I'm preaching to the choir when I say social networks represent an easy, cost-effective way to market your small business and connect with current and potential customers,
colleagues, partners, etc.

They're even a worthy source for screening potential employees. (Read my September post, "How Social Networks Can Stop You From Making A Bad Hire" for more on that.) But how about checking on employees who call in sick to work?

Reuters reports that a woman took a day off from her job as Nationale Suisse -- she said she couldn't work in front of a computer and needed to be in the dark (migraine?) -- then was seen online making the Facebook rounds. Long story short, she lost her job, though, according to CNET (which kindly translated the following), she told Swiss daily newspaper 20 Minuten that her trust in the company was gone and she wouldn't have returned to her job anyway.

The now ex-employee did accuse her employer of spying, but says she's not pursuing a lawsuit. And as with most situations in life, I can't help but think there are a few more sides to the story, one likely including a suspicious pattern of, cough, cough, staying home sick a few times too many.

Then again, you could argue that no matter what, Nationale Suisse crossed the line. What do you think? Is there a bigger privacy issue?

On a related note, a CNET video called "Don't Let Facebook Get You Fired," is worth a watch -- though not on company time.

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