No they should not. As long as you give 100% at work what right has your employer got to intrude into your private life. On the other hand, would they like it if we the employees could check out THEIR myspace page, I DONT THINK SO.

This is one of the most disgraceful acts of totalitarianism happening in this country today. It's none of an employers **** business what the hell your life is like when you aren't at work. This is ALMOST as bad as the ones that check your credit report. This is Big Brother at its ugliest, and should be illegal.

Is there honestly ANYONE who isn't an employer who would answer yes to this question? That's why agencies have background checks. It is a personal profile and whould not be viewed for the purpose of professional conduct. Therefore, I believe this thread should not even have been made. It is a stupid question.

No, your employer shouldn't invade privacy. In accordance, nobody should be checking MYSPACE during work, as is. If you don't want people looking at your MYSPACE, make your page 'private'!

I think it's wrong, people have the right to their own lives. I have a feeling it's just one of those things, there is no way she can win without staying in the house 365 days a year. The "official" who found this sounds a little creepy for checking out the students in MySpace. It could be put the other way and said it could be construed as cyber-stalking. I have a feeling the same thing would have happened if this "official" saw the student in a bar having a drink.

Though I don't agree that they should have checked, she also should be careful. The internet is a public place. If your profile is set to public, that means your boss can view your private life. If you want your private life to stay private, take the responsibility to keep your profile life private as well.

I voted that a line should be drawn. I mean, it's not like she was underage or anything, and it's not like she's doing anything reckless. It seems to me that she's just sitting in her dorm having a drink, it's really not fair.

I chose "use an alias" here because while I agree what she did on her own time has no bearing on her ability to teach, She is representing something bigger than just herself.

Truth be told, from my point of view, they should have issued the degree and teaching certificate. I see this as the institution overstepping their bounds and violating her rights!

Just want to clarify, this isn't about WHEN you publish your Myspace page. Just because you create it and update it at home doesn't mean it's private. It is a public web site and if you publish there it is public--it is not confidential and not private.

There are web sites (like Yahoo groups) where you can limit public access to your posts. But if you are putting things out there for anybody to read, it is not private once you post it.

Putting something on Myspace is like talking on a public street. When you say something in a public space, it remains public. The mistake here is thinking that Myspace is private. Private is where nobody else can see it. Same thing with e-mail. Once you hit the SEND button, you are no longer in control of who sees it or where is is sent. When you write a snail mail letter, you no longer have control over how that letter is shared once you mail it.

If I were an employer I would of course check Myspace. I would also check references and call previous employers. I would ask about your judgment and your work habits.

You of course have the right to do anything you want in your spare time, but if you publicize it (by yelling it in the public square or putting it on Myspace) you have to expect that others might see it. Puttin compromising things out on a public web site suggests some things about your judgment.

If your on myspace during work hours, he would have a right to check it. off hours non of his business. what you have on your myspace is your own personal business. tell the boss to mind is own bee's wax...my time, is my time..

hi

NO as in NO hope that boss's won't intrude our webpage it's a private possession.... hope that they will put border on work and private life!!!

I have had my employer find my myspace profile and scathing blogs... they did not ask me to take them down, but just suggested that my comment would be taken incorrectly by the corporate heads that did not know me and how much I believed in the company and it's customers. I did find it interesting that they did take the time to read by blogs. some of them are pretty cut-throat and after my severance package was no longer in jeopardy.. I reallly opened up. but my time and thoughts are my own. I let nobody tell me what I should or should not say. For those that have read my writings here, you know that I only pull punches when it may not be fit for a child to read... THEY are worth my self censorship.