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I agree with the background checks to a certain degree. For instance, what does someone's credit history have to do with their abilities to perform their job? What is even more disturbing is the fact that companies are beginning to check what web sites their employees visit, blog on and what domain names they own.

I was listening to the Kevin and Bean radio show on KROQ this morning. From what I gathered by the conversation between the DJ's, was that corporate sent a questionnaire to the crew asking about their personal online activities. Their corporate offices also wanted to know what advertisements they had on their personal web sites and if those advertisements are in direct competition to the organization that employs them.

If the company can dig that deep into our personal lives, can we then dig that deep into the individuals running our organizations? After all, most employees have money invested in the company's 401K programs, not to mention some people spend their entire lives working for a single organization, for generations even. If the company fails, the employees lose in some instances their life savings, their jobs. What sort of assurance are the employees given that their leaders are leading them into the future and not bankruptcy?

I understand the company's point of view in regards to for example, the Kevin and Bean page on the KROQ web site but that should be the extent of it. If an individual wants to have a web site and maintain it when they're not at work, it shouldn't have to be cleared by the company that employees them. What someone does in their personal time is just that, personal.

Learn more about this author, Angie SanFilippo.
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