Small Business & Hiring...

It appears the outlook for hiring by small business is grim.  In a recent CNN Money article, small business employers are saying they plan to stay at their current employee numbers for the remainder of 2011 and in 2012.  In a survey released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, two-thirds of small businesses stated they have no plans to add employees through 2012.  This is not good news for the labor market or unemployment rate.

For more on the story, click HERE.

Social Media & The Employer Test | Bellingham HR Consultant

Increasingly employers are using social media venues to screen their employees and potential hires.  They use it as a means to not only verify information the employee/hiring candidate shared, but also to ensure they aren't been misrepresented on the internet.  Some of the key things employees and potential employees should keep in mind when posting to social media venues is:

• What are your privacy settings? Can anyone see what you've posted?  If you have your privacy settings on "High," it limits the potential for an employer to have a peek at what you've posted.  But, it typically doesn't limit those who are on your friends list.  So review your settings, and make sure you are comfortable with who sees what.
• Who do you "friend?" Is it only personal friends and family? Co-workers? Your boss?  As mentioned earlier, even if your privacy settings limit outsiders from having a peek, it doesn't limit insiders.  Those you are friends with can easily access your information.  So, if your co-workers and boss are on your lists it means they can access your information.  It also means your employer has another way of accessing you.
• What photographs have you posted?  Do you really think a potential employer is going to still over you that job when you've got photos of you attached to a beer bong posted all over Facebook? Think again.  Filter! Filter! Filter!  While some photos might be funny to friends and family, it could cause your employer and/or a potential employer to think twice.
• Status updates... I've seen employees who have called in sick at work, post status updates to their social media accounts that definitely did not support their "I have the flu" excuse for not reporting to the job. 

While the internet and social media have opened up a lot of opportunities for people - making this world of ours a lot smaller and people more accessible - it has also created a fishbowl effect.  What was once considered private is no longer off-limits - even for your employer.  So be cautious and pay attention.