We are currently undertaking a recruitment drive. Can we check up on applicants’ online profiles before deciding whom to appoint?

There is nothing in law preventing an employer from looking at publicly available material before offering an individual a job, however doing so can leave the employer open to potential claims of discrimination.

Given the types of information typically found on blogs or social networking websites, a claim for discrimination is a real prospect if the information is used to reject a candidate especially when the candidate meets the criteria set by the employer. While a job applicant's sexuality or religious beliefs would never usually be included in their CV, employers can now gain access to such information with relative ease via the internet.

Most employers would provide a different reason