Everyone tells a white lie every so often, even the most “honest” of folks. But when those lies occur in the workplace and infringe upon productivity, the line has to be drawn. These funny quips from real-life employees who thought they’d get away “Scott free” are definitely giggle-worthy. By the way, all of these employees were busted through social networking sites via a blog or pictures they posted (or that someone else posted) online. Thanks to Computer World Networking site for the amusing stories. They all emphasize the importance of running a criminal background check and an employment screening on each and every employee.
1. A temporary worker at the Microsoft Corporation was doing some research for his personal blog and decided that he would check out the latest Mac G5 computer. Apparently, after spending all of the time necessary to research, review, and blog about the fabulous new Apple product, his employer, Microsoft, had something to say about it. Instead of getting a pat on the back for a job well done, he was given the ax for publishing the blog. Microsoft claimed that the employee had recently “violated their security policies”, conveniently of which coincided with his now-infamous blog.
2. Poor student teacher Stacey Snyder. Her soon-to-be Millersville University teaching degree was revoked after pictures she posted to her MySpace profile were found by school administrators. Not exactly the “smoking gun” you’d expect; she was holding a glass of liquid and was dressed up as a pirate with the caption “drunken pirate” on the picture. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she’s now embroiled in an all-out battle with the school over the rights to her degree, claiming that rescinding it was in violation of her First Amendment Rights. I wonder if an employment screening would turn up this little tidbit and jeopardize a future career as a party planner…
3. In a place where smoking is banned on campus, the last person you’d expect to break the rules would be the school principal. However, that was just what happened when the Principal of Central High School in Providence, Rhode Island, decided to smoke on campus. A student snapped a shot of her smoking and posted it to his Web site. He then proceeded to pass out flyers all around campus urging other students to visit his site and view the picture. Little did he know that by doing this he’d be granted several days off from school (what a punishment)! Once the local news caught wind of what happened, the student’s suspension was, er, suspended.
4. The final installment of online stupidity is so boldly displayed in an English man’s YouTube video series titled “This is everything illegal I love to do.” That’s not really the title of his series, but it is quite fitting because Andrew Kellett decided to speed at 140 mph in his car, drove recklessly, stole petrol (gasoline) from stations, used drugs…and videotaped every instance! A magistrate (judge) who worked in Andrew’s county saw his videos online and ordered him to appear in court. Now facing 2 years of probation and barred from posting further videos, hopefully Andrew will stop being known as “Britain’s Dumbest Criminal” once his 15 minutes of fame are over. I’ll bet a shiny, new criminal background check will keep future employers abreast of his famed status and extend those 15 minutes.
Though many employees seem like honest, upstanding citizens, their private lives can speak for them in more ways than we’d like to hear. Find out what your employees are up to (and only hire new employees with clean records) by using a service like Accu-Screen for employment screening, a criminal background check, and much more!
