Major tech companies, including Meta, use secret blacklist systems to prevent former employees from being rehired. The system, which is often used as a “risk management” strategy, can lead to uncertain job prospects and further stigmatize workers who have left the company.
Companies like Meta claim that their decision to bar an ex-employee from rehire is based on factors such as policy violations or performance issues. However, critics argue that this practice disproportionately harms workers who may have left on neutral terms.
The existence of blacklist systems introduces yet another layer of uncertainty in an already ruthless job market. “If a manager has a beef against an employee, they can easily keep them from being hired again,” says one nurse with 38 years of experience.
Industry experts are calling for an industry-wide conversation about this practice, arguing that it’s time to reconsider the use of blacklist systems. “Simply saying ‘don’t have these lists at all’ without a viable alternative ignores the difficulties of managing large companies at scale,” says career coach Marlo Lyons.
The system raises questions about how decisions are made and whether employees have any recourse. As one Reddit user notes, if you leave for a competitor, you’re automatically flagged as “do not rehire” with no discussion or appeal process.
While some argue that blacklist systems can help protect against risks, critics say it’s time to move beyond this approach. “The question isn’t just whether you’ll be welcomed back — it’s whether the door was silently locked behind you the moment you walked out,” says Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert.
Experts suggest that companies should have a policy for re-evaluating reasons someone is placed on a list and consider alternative approaches to address concerns. As Laszlo Bock, former Google HR head, noted on LinkedIn, “I’ve never heard of anything like this.” The use of blacklist systems is often seen as punitive rather than constructive.
In an interview, Karen Liska, attorney and Director of People Operations at SafeSend, said that blacklist systems can be used for legitimate business reasons or improperly to maintain discriminatory practices. She questioned whether these lists should have expiration dates “to give people a chance to learn and grow or for the security/revenge risk to cool off.”
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-block-lists-affect-your-job-search-and-career-advancement-2025-3