Fired for refusing to hand over Facebook password

Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:19 pm » by **domdabears**

Kimberly Hester, a grade school teacher's aide in Michigan, was fired for refusing to hand over her Facebook password to her supervisors. Hester posted a picture of a co-workers' shoes and pants bunched around her ankles on Facebook in April 2011 with the caption, "Thinking of you." She posted the picture in jest, but a parent who's on her Facebook friend list saw the image and reported it to Frank Squires Elementary where Hester was employed, prompting the investigation.

Teachers have gotten in trouble for Facebook status messages before, but in Hester's case, it's her refusal to hand over her password that actually got her fired. One of the supervisors from the Lewis Cass Intermediate School District (ISD), the regional service center for education in Michigan, even wrote her a letter when she refused to give them her password for the third time. Part of the letter read: "... in the absence of you voluntarily granting Lewis Cass ISD administration access to you[r] Facebook page, we will assume the worst and act accordingly." Lewis Cass wanted to put Hester on a paid administrative leave before they fired her, but she chose to go on an unpaid leave because she believes she did nothing wrong. She plans to use the letter she received to sue the school district.

An increasing number of companies and schools have started asking employees and students for their Facebook passwords. The practice has been growing at such an alarming rate, that Facebook released its official stance on the issue, telling its users that they have the right not to comply with their employers' request. Several politicians including Michigan's own State Representatives Aric Nesbitt and Matt Lori have been pushing for bills that will make the breach of privacy an illegal practice. Unfortunately, it hasn't been going very well for them — the House of Representatives recently rejected a legislation that would protect your passwords from employers' prying eyes.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology- ... 05406.html

Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:27 pm » by **Mushroom**

Guilty until proven innocent.

I would have fired her for adding a parent to her friend list.

Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:36 pm » by **Dagnamski**

Erm
Quotey "Hester posted a picture of a co-workers' shoes and pants bunched around her ankles on Facebook in April 2011 with the caption, "Thinking of yous".

That seems perfectly reasonable behaviour. :lol:

Damn trolls!

no co-workers were harmed during this incident as she refused to give her holy password in. :banana:

The great party in the sky continues :sunny:

Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:57 pm » by **Scarecro**

"... in the absence of you voluntarily granting Lewis Cass ISD administration access to you[r] Facebook page, we will assume the worst and act accordingly."

Give admin access to your facebook? So they are pissed she wouldn't friend them?

I must be reading this differently, I see nothing about them specifically asking for her password, they just want access to her FB page. Of course she has the right to refuse.

EDIT: I did read it wrong.

Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:59 pm » by **Dagnamski**

let the fear be with you :love:

Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:22 pm » by **domdabears**

dagnamski wrote:let the fear be with you

Drink it in.

Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:41 pm » by **Eldorado**

I am surprised they didnt even try to get the password from Facebook.....they would have given it up freely, as quickly as they gave up the other information freely.

Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:01 am » by **Chaindrive**

mushroom wrote:Guilty until proven innocent.

I would have fired her for adding a parent to her friend list.

Seriously... I would of fired her JUST for having a facebook account... that goes for tweeter, myspace... and for whatever the hell is out there.....and yeah... she was certainly retarded for adding a parent to her list... maybe it was the woman of the man shes having an affair with...or maybe its her son... you know "chicken hawks" are females too

And to think that when "IT" hits the fan.. the first group of people theyll be rounding up will be on facebook.. well.... good for them..

what a lame ass concept....... "social networking"... who dreams this stuff up anyway..? Must of sniffed ALOT of airplane glue in their youth or got kicked in the head by a horse one too many times...that would explain alot.

Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:35 am » by **Mediasorcerer**

facebook say its illegal to give there password to 3rd parties.

Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:02 pm » by **Ufosarus**

anyone who has a facebook account sould be fired or at least given a good beating!