More than a billion people log onto social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram everyday making it an attractive way for employers to advertise employment opportunities.
Social media companies such as Facebook can target online job posting ads geographically so that they appear within a few miles radius of a company or internationally with the click of a button, or even target ads to a certain demographic so that companies can find the perfect candidate.
Unfortunately, the targeting of ads can result in employment discrimination. Take for example recent findings by the EEOC who found reasonable cause to conclude that over a handful of companies violated civil rights protections by excluding women or older workers or both from seeing job ads posted to Facebook.
Among those cited by the EEOC for age discrimination include well know companies such as Capital One and Edward Jones. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination. Two other prominent employers, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Renewal by Andersen LLC, were cited for both age and gender discrimination, the latter is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Iowa Civil Rights Act laws.
Older or female applicants looking for work when the targeted ads in question appeared likely never saw the jobs because targeting ad tools are just that precise, leaving many concerned about the potential for widespread digital discrimination. To its credit, Facebook has agreed to change the way employers can target advertising on the platform moving forward in an effort to prevent employment discrimination; running ads that exclude people by gender, race, religion, national origin, age or other protected categories is a violation of civil rights laws.
Contact a Des Moines Employment Discrimination Lawyer
If you have been subject to employment discrimination including sexual harassment or have been wrongfully terminated or otherwise retaliated against after reporting discrimination in the workplace, it is important to seek help. The Des Moines employment law attorneys of Stoltze & Stoltze PLC have successfully represented Iowans involved in employment disputes related to discrimination and can help you too. Contact us for answers and a free consultation at 515-244-1473.
