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Posting your illness on social media - a career "dont"

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Posted 10/4/2015 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Everyone should know by now that HR looks at younger potential recruits on social media for there party habits ect. - or there life in general.

But they are beginning to look at everyone's social media page as a way to weed out the "unwanteds". Sometimes even current workplaces do this now. I recently spoke to a recruiter in a social situation that was not career related at all. This person admitted to hacking and/or relying on others hacking abilities to pry open "locked" social media pages for the sole purpose on snooping.

Companies dont want ill people. I'm sure many of us know someone that was fired once lyme was revieled to the employer.

Sometimes larger corporations will specifically look for a physically disabled person (visually obvious), but lyme and most illnesses dont fall under that category.

So dont do it if you need to be employed. A lot of lyme groups rely on Facebook- not a very good idea on their part.
Posted 10/4/2015 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
So true astroman and this is why I am so leery of joining those groups on Facebook, whether they are closed or public, as well as anything Lyme related on any of the other platforms. It's too risky and I'm super paranoid
Posted 10/4/2015 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for this, I need to me more careful about what I share. I've spent all this time trying to help people, make them feel better and not alone,but don't want to endanger my son's life/future... it's so sad it's like that.
Posted 10/4/2015 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Astroman. It is utterly sad. There is no privacy in the world today. It makes me sick that employers feel entitled to this info. I think we need legislation on this issue to protect employees and potential employees.

Discrimination is rampant. Unfortunately, I have been leary of sharing info on FB for this and other reasons. It is sad because I could help spread more awareness.
Posted 10/4/2015 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
On a related note- Last spring I was really looking forward to an interview and helping with a lyme / tick awareness artical in a couple local (small) newspapers.

They both said their policy on stories of local people is to include their names. I said no way, its not needed, an alias is fine with me. The editors wouldn't do it without my real name. I told them to forget the whole idea and I hope their kids don't get ill playing in the the local woods!!
Posted 10/7/2015 6:24 AM (GMT 0)
" Sometimes larger corporations will specifically look for a physically disabled person (visually obvious), but lyme and most illnesses dont fall under that category." Not true....there are certainly people with Lyme who look physically disabled. My husband is one of them.
Posted 10/7/2015 6:37 AM (GMT 0)
Well my Facebook 'name' is not my legal name. I didn't include my address, phone, or birthday, OR picture, & I have a separate email just for that Facebook alias! I most certainly did NOT agree to the terms that I read when I first got my smart phone; therefore most def. Not use my mobile device for Facebook.

Did someone mention paranoia-LOL!!!
Posted 10/7/2015 11:10 AM (GMT 0)
Its a sad, sad world ain't it.

However, call me bloody minded, as I most certainly am, I have an different perspective. I know, have known and have lost people due to mental or 'unseen' illness, there are way too many suffers, not just of lyme but all kinds of problems, some not with dissimilar symptoms to my own. If 'normal' folks in enough numbers become aware and thus able to understand the real issues then there would have to be a 'tipping point' where this type of discrimination couldn't happen.

I am of the opinion that legislation is often ignored (you have to prove someone has been snooping, which you can't if they are any good at it) but mass public opinion cannot be.

I post about lyme, suicide, depression, autism, etc, etc and intend to keep doing so. Yes, I completely understand and agree with what's been said above and am not ignorant that so many people are in a position where they HAVE to be careful or risk jobs, careers, etc. This in its very essence is sad but necessary. At least for now.

Me? I will be loud, proud (and secretly paranoid, lol). I may not change the world but I will be buggered if it will shut me up.

Back to my dream world ;)
Posted 10/7/2015 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
this is important info, thanks for sharing. I have hinted at my health issues on social media since I work as a self-employed artist and have people following my work. I let them know I'm dealing with some major stuff but wasn't too specific. That is a luxury few can afford, I also probably won't be working in the regular work force so I have a bit more wiggle room with this.

I've really wanted to write more publicly about my illness and health struggles, but have multiple worries in terms of insurance and my health condition being used against me. Especially since I'm under unconventional treatments with "controversial" dx.

I really respect the people who speak out about this. If I can regain my health I will be much more confident in speaking out about all this publicly.
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