But many workers and most privacy groups disagree and say that goes too far. Monitor excessive time on the Internet, they say, but not where workers choose to go. One man, who wanted his identity concealed, was fired recently for sending personal e-mails. Workers say that's wrong. But employers say they have to.
Most people think filling a prescription is a confidential matter.
What many do not know is that all their personal information is fed into the computer database of their insurance company, which must approve each prescription. These databases are not secure. Employers can gain access to personal information about patients that pharmacists wouldn't normally give employers. And there's evidence that companies are not shy about gaining this information. A University of Illinois survey of 84 Fortune 500 companies showed that 35 percent used medical records to make decisions about hiring, firing and promotions.