Is it a violation of my privacy and rights if my employer just added a new policy which allows them to be able to search my purse, lunch box and bags when leaving the store?
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Is it a violation of my privacy and rights if my employer just added a new policy which allows them to be able to search my purse, lunch box and bags when leaving the store?
I work for Walmart and they are passing a company
policy about being able to search our purses, lunch
boxes, and items we brought when leaving the store.
I feel it it’s a violation of my rights and my privacy as
an employee, and as a customer who purchase
things when leaving the store. I called home office
and asked if it’s a violation of privacy and I was told
no. I’ve worked for the company for six years.
Asked on November 9, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Louisiana
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
First of all, does this action violate the terms of an employment contract or union agreement? Does it constitute some form of legally actionable discrimination? If not, then an employer is allowed to protect its interests, and this includes a search of employee belongings when they leave the business premises. The fact is that in an "at will" work arrangement, a company can set the conditions of employment much as it sees fit. For their part, employees can either accept the restrictions, complain but risk termination, or quit.
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