The lawyer warned about the illegality of hiring refusals due to photos in social networks

Refusing to hire because of personal photos on social networks or requiring a password to access private profiles is an invasion of privacy. Alexander Khaminsky, a lawyer and head of the Law Enforcement Center in Moscow and the Moscow Region, told Izvestia about this on April 2.

"Formally, the refusal to hire "because of a photo in a swimsuit on a social network" is illegal and can be challenged in court. Requiring a password or "add me as a friend so that I can view a private profile" is also illegal. This is an invasion of privacy," Khaminsky stressed.

However, he noted that in some cases, companies may simply provide a neutral reason for refusal, which makes legal protection difficult. According to him, certain categories of employees are required to disclose information about their social media accounts.

"For example, civil servants are required to report annually by April 1 on their accounts, blogs and forums where they posted publicly available information. This obligation has been in effect since 2017," the lawyer explained.

According to Khaminsky, special attention should be paid to teachers and educators who are subject to strict requirements for "moral character."

"Posting photos and posts on a personal page that do not correspond to the ideas of parents of students about teachers has more than once become a reason for scandals and dismissal from work," the expert concluded.

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Dmitry Kofanov, a labor law lawyer, said on March 31 that an unsuccessful joke at work could result not only in dismissal, but also in court proceedings, so it is important to observe subordination. According to him, if a joke violates boundaries and is directed at a supervisor, the employer has the right to demand an explanation, and an explanatory note may be the first step towards disciplinary action.

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