Remember that blow-up a few months back about how employers were starting to ask potential hires for their social-media passwords? And how Facebook thought people shouldn't have to?
Well, that battle is all but over, at least here in Chicago. A release sent out Thursday morning by Dean Public Relations indicates that "Governor Pat Quinn is expected to sign a bill into law that would ban Illinois employers from requesting the social-networking passwords of employees and job candidates."
The release then goes on to say that, according to Chicago employment attorney Peter Gillespie, "this won't stop employers from legally learning what is unfolding on the Facebook pages of employees..there are legitimate reasons why employers need to view the Facebook activity of employees."
Think what you will about this development, but I think if you're dumb enough to use Facebook to vent about your co-workers when you know your co-workers might see it, you're kinda wanting to get caught anyway. Right?
David Wolinsky is a freelance writer and a lifelong Chicagoan. In addition to currently serving as an interviewer-writer for Adult Swim, he's also a columnist for EGM. He was the Chicago city editor for The Onion A.V. Club where he provided in-depth daily coverage of this city's bustling arts/entertainment scene for half a decade. When not playing video games for work he's thinking of dashing out to Chicago Diner, Pizano's, or Yummy Yummy. His first career aspirations were to be a game-show host.
