So, I just accepted a job with a merchandising company (which I won't disclose for obvious reasons since I just got this job and need it horribly.)
I recieved an email about two hours ago, “welcoming” me to “the team”. Rah rah, yeah yeah. (I hate corporate pleasantries. Shut up, just give me the details!). Anyway, they gave my start date, who to meet with, dress code, etc. At the end of the email, they “invited” me to “follow them on social media”. I'm not obligated, but it gives me the heebie jeebies and makes me laugh that they think I don't see the underlying purpose of this “invite”. I see your stalkin' ass! Now, I don't have any of the social media they suggested except one. That one account that I DO have is not for business purposes, it's personal…for my OWN entertainment. I didn't follow them, obviously, but did already block them so they can't even search for me. Checkmate.
I have heard dozens of stories of businesses stalking employees online, completely unwarranted, and firing people for equally unwarranted reasons. Stupidly unbeknownst to ALL companies, they think I'm dumb enough to give them an open door to give them access to my personal life. I have nothing to hide, however, my personal life has nothing to do with my ability to do my job, and I refuse to put myself in the naive position to be judged. I'd prefer to be judged professionally, and how well I work.
My personal life is off limits, and there is NADA in my employment agreement saying I agreed to such intrusion. I never signed off on that. I didn't offer it, so don't ask. Hard no from me. The veiled, seemingly innocent attempt to “follow us on social media!” is off-putting. Not sure why employers seem to think they have this special right to know what we do in our off-time, but they don't.
What I'd like everyone reading this to know, is that you NEVER have to disclose ANYTHING about your personal life to your employer. Be careful of what you sign and what they ask of you. General rule: If you don't offer it, they don't get it. They do NOT have to know what color you shit yesterday.
If any of you follow your company or boss on PERSONAL social media, unfollow and block! Even if you see no harm in it or you are “work buddies”…you aren't “buddies”. They are your employer, not your friend. I think there are enough posts on this thread giving prime example that your employer can AND WILL turn on you at THEIR discretion. They don't give a damn about you. You are a NUMBER to them and that is fact! I never really did understand people who mix work with personal, but, it's on my list of “DO NOT RECOMMEND”. Don't self sabotage your ability to do your job and earn a living. NEVER voluntarily open yourselves to employer discrimination (which is protected under federal employment laws, IF, in fact, the discrimination laws are being broken).
We hear employers and companies bitch and complain all the time that “no one wants to work”. Funny, because I thought it was because we want fair treatment, a LIVING wage and the ability to do our jobs without an employer thinking they OWN US. They do not. We also hear from them that we are “disposable” and they can find others to do our job in our place if need be. Also funny, because we can do the same with them!
My point is, we need to stop enabling their mentality that they somehow deserve to have control over every aspect of our lives, even when we are off the clock. It's not that we “don't want to work”, we do. We just don't to work for places that benefit from treating the masses, that make them billions, like shit. They forget WE are the reason they even have a company to begin with. I have been working for 21 years and it pisses me off that every single person of legal working age has to scrape by, hang our heads and just agree to everything simply because of corporate greed and entitlement. WE DON'T!
Anyway, thanks for reading my rant. Sorry it was long or got a little off-track. I just figured this was the perfect place to voice my utter frustration. Keep your eyes open for employer control tactics. We are tired of the unethical bullshit. Remember that employers don't care about your health, well being or ability to live your life…..until, of course, it suits THEM to use your personal life against you. It's one-sided and it needs to STOP!
“Work to live”, NOT “live to work”.