But that's what happened. A representative of Safeway in Fremont, Calif., where McIntosh worked as a payroll clerk for over 20 years, gave the document to one of her colleagues. It was a public document. . . . The complaint is pending in state superior court. As work and home life become more intertwined, companies are requesting subpoenas to search workers' home computers for evidence.
Employers say they have no choice but to ratchet up observation.
Otherwise, they risk lawsuits stemming from the presence of sexually explicit, racist, or libelous material at work. Firms also are concerned about maintaining productivity with so many online distractions, safeguarding intellectual property, and preventing drug abuse. The only place where you're safe from monitoring is in your private thoughts. The courts have agreed by overwhelmingly siding with employers in privacy cases. This far-reaching surveillance has led to disciplinary actions against employees.