Social Media Discrimination Truth According To A Leading HR Expert Jessica Miller Merrell

Oct. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- Corporate social media discrimination is a topic that can no longer be ignored. HR and Social Media expert Jessica Miller-Merrell provides a new outlook on work discrimination laws, especially when it comes to corporate social media discrimination, which is the hottest topic among recruiting professionals within social networks.

Miller-Merrell’s blog series regarding Social Media Discrimination, which is a pioneer on the subject, has received a staggering amount of attention and response from leading HR professionals to legal publications.

According to Jessica Miller-Merrell’s research, John R. Lanham, an associate for Morrison Foerster, shared his views on social media and employment issues; “Social media technology has a significant impact on the workplace.  Employees may upload personal information that an organization believes is inconsistent with its image or mission.

Social media also provides a venue for groups of employees to discuss work-related issues outside of management oversight.  Moreover, an employee could inadvertently share confidential business information, such as a pending acquisition, that harms the employer or raises securities law issues.”

Miller-Merrell compels senior leaders, HR teams and HR managers to consider a very important aspect of social media discrimination; the off-work conduct in employment decisions could not only be against the law, but a form of discrimination in itself. Employers know the boundaries of employee rights in the workplace.

As a leading HR expert and  one of the most influential woman in social media, Jessica Miller-Merrell  believes that what employees do  during non working hours could create more consequences for the employer than what the employee does while on duty.

Miller-Merrell adds, “…But activities that happen after hours, those non-working hours could be protected.  In fact, 26 states offer protection of off-duty conduct.  This means that companies who consider off-duty and after working hours conduct when making employment decisions like hiring, firing, performance, and promotions could be digging themselves a very large, deep, and dark hole.”

Miller-Merrell’s blog series on Social Media Discrimination covers the following topics:

   Educating senior leaders on using Social Media
   How to use social networking tools effectively
   Social Media Policies and Employee Rights
   Social media as a form of communication
   The use of social media in recruiting and emerging discrimination issues
   Sexual-discrimination in employment decisions
   Discrimination based on lifestyle choices when the employer can view a potential employee’s photos and status updates. For example, pregnancy can play a big role in employment decisions.



Miller-Merrell encourages senior level management to be open to using social media as a channel to communicate with employees and not to spy on their activities, even during non-working hours.  Social media can be used as a great social networking tool to bring positive changes to organizations.

To obtain instant access to Jessica Miller-Merrell’s FREE HR and social media resources, visit her http://www.Blogging4Jobs.com website.

For serious business professionals who want to expand their company’s business, Jessica Miller-Merrell is available for speaking engagements, corporate consulting and private educational events.

Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR known on Twitter as http://www.twitter.com.com/blogging4jobs  She’s an Internet television host, author, speaker, new mother, and Human Resources professional with a passion for recruiting, training, and all things social media. Jessica is a leader in the HR social media community and has over 11 years of experience in Human Resources and Recruiting. Her book, Tweet This! Twitter for Business was released in February 2010.

Jessica blogs about HR, Social Media Policies, Recruiting, Job Seekers, and Recruiting topics. Blogging4Jobs.com has more than 500 blogs posts and has been active since 2007.

Contact Jessica via email at jessica@xceptionalhr.com or by phone at 405.293-2564

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Tatyana Gann is the founder of the Smokin’ Hot PR Boutique, providing publicity, online PR services and even private VIP consulting. Tatyana Gann is ready to bring you promotion tips to help you gain more raving customers for your business