In-depth information about employee rights to privacy in drug testing, searches of electronic mail and files, hair and dress codes, arrest records, credit reports and other off-duty conduct that may be considered by an employer.

Employers: Stop privacy lawsuits with our Internet and e-mail policy package, training programs and recommended books.

Employees: Enforce your rights with our recommended books.

FAQs

• What are legal issues created by the internet?
• What workplace information is private?
• Is there free speech at work?
• Are grooming and dress codes legal?
• What are privacy rights for drug and alcohol?
• What are privacy rights on internet and phones?
• Can employer act based on employee's private life?

Stop Costly Lawsuits

• Management training programs
• Internet usage policy and procedure
• Recommended books

Know Your Rights

• Books and tapes

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FAQs

What are legal issued created by the internet?

• Can we fire employee surfing "adult" web sites on the net?
• "Addicted to Internet" Protected Disability?
• Can we force employee to put personal information on our company internet site?
• Employers must report employees who surf illegal websites
• Employee rights in the blogosphere
• Is it legal to fire me for what I put in my blog?
• What are the rules for accountants about keeping e-mails?
• Employer can be sued for harassment in on-line forum
• We told you your e-mails would get you!
• Accidentally putting confidential information on network drive is not slander

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What workplace information is private?

• Can we post employee productivity metrics?
• Can we force employees to say why they won't come to Saturday company picnic?
• Can we verify employment without employee consent?
• Can we post a list of fired employees?
• Do employees have to disclose their illnesses to co-workers?
• Can we put the name of injured employees on incident reports?
• Is it invasion of privacy to post a voluntary birthday list?
• Can employee be asked to provide names of spouse and children?
• My employer has me under surveillance - is this legal?
• Employees refuse to provide Social Security number - what can we do?
• Can I e-mail the company explaining why I fired an employee?
• Can we distribute employee home addresses and phone numbers to all staff?
• Are birthdays private information?
• How can credit checks be used?
• Can we tell employees about everyone's performance?
• Get Hip to HIPAA!
• After working 5 years, can I be fired for a felony I put on my application?
• Help! The boss cut a peephole in the bathroom!
• Don't I have the right to copies of everything in my personnel file?
• Can my employer open mail addressed to me at work?
• They told 300 people my salary and social security number - is that legal?
• When is it legal to videotape at work?
• What can you say in a reference?
• Is it legal for companies to ask applicants for their last pay stub?
• Former company owner wants to keep personnel records -- is this legal?
• Do employees have right to see personnel files?
• Can attendance records be posted?
• How confidential is employee credit information?
• Do we have a duty to give bad references?
• Discovering criminal convictions of employees -- what can we do?
• What questions can be asked by a security company?
• Major privacy rights case impacts stress claims

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Still have questions about Privacy Law? Ask the Lawyer!


Is there free speech at work?

• Do harassment laws violate free speech?
• Is it legal to fire me for what I put in my blog?
• Does a bodybuilding magazine create a hostile environment?
• The limits on freedom of speech at work
• Do employees have the right to express unpopular political views?
• Don't we have the right to talk about sex, religion and politics?
• Employee takes religious freedom too far
• That's not sexual harassment, that's freedom of speech!
• You don't have full freedom of speech at work

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Still have questions about Privacy Law? Ask the Lawyer!


Are grooming and dress codes legal?

• Can employer dictate what shoes employees wear?
• Male drivers forced to wear ties - isn't this a safety hazard?
• Can employer allow beards but not goatees?
• Do I HAVE to wear a tie?
• How do I handle an employee who reeks of cigarette smoke?
• Can the boss make me lose weight and stop smoking?
• The nose knows!
• Is prohibiting facial hair illegal sex discrimination?
• Can a woman be fired for refusing to wear make-up on the job?
• Can we ask the receptionist to hide her hickeys?
• Can I be fired for refusing to wear long-sleeve shirt to cover tattoos?
• Can employer discriminate based on hair length?

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Still have questions about Privacy Law? Ask the Lawyer!


What are privacy rights for drugs and alcohol?

• Drug testing lab won't give us copy of results - what should we do?
• The drug test results were false, and I was fired - can I sue?
• Can a worker be fired for checking into rehab?
• Can conviction due to alcoholism be used to bar employment?
• What are the legal ramifications of employees including alcohol on expense reports?
• Can my public employer ask my doctor about my drug prescriptions?
• Does accusation by fellow employee justify drug testing?
• Can an employee in alcohol rehab tell co-workers?
• Can we drug test janitor who admits smoking pot?
• What are the rules on drug tests?
• Can truck driver who quits due to pot smoking co-workers sue company?
• Getting high on drug testing
  Originally printed in the Employment Law special section of "The Recorder" legal newspaper on August 24, 1998.

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Still have questions about Privacy Law? Ask the Lawyer!


What are privacy rights on internet and phone?

• Can we subpoena employee's cell phone records?
• Can supervisor be fired for e-mails to lover-subordinate?
• Can employer legally tape cell phone calls?
• What internet access policies are legally advisable?
• Car salesman fired for opposing sales training can pursue whistleblowing case

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Still have questions about Privacy Law? Ask the Lawyer!


Can employer act based on employee's private life?

• Employee refuses to give us their new home address - what should we do?
• Can we require employees to store their medications in the office?
• Is it invasion of privacy to check an employee's reason for non-attendance?
• Can I require employees to exercise and not eat meat?
• Can we force employees to donate to charity?
• Can we refuse to hire a convicted felon in an executive position?
• Is it discrimination to fire employees for lying on their applications about convictions?
• Can company hire a private investigator to discover an affair?
• Can they fire me for not participating in office social events?
• Can I fire an employee for dating a customer?
• Can employees be forced to be vaccinated?
• Can the boss make me change my name?
• Should a felony conviction automatically disqualify a potential employee?
• How much personal information is the boss entitled to?
• The company wants to search us -- is that legal?
• Should our policy handbook prohibit gambling and immoral conduct?
• Employees get sick after their extreme vacations -- can we stop them?
• Is company liable for what happens at holiday party?
• Is it illegal for an employee to have two full-time jobs?
• Can employer demote employee for behavior outside work?
• Can we ask telecommuters for their home phone numbers?
• What are legal risks of anti-nepotism policies?
• Can non-smoker be fired?
• Is it legal to not hire a person just because they smoke?
• Can employee be fired for rumors that damage employer reputation?
• "Outing" gay employee held invasion of privacy
• Do you have a private life?
• Smokers have no right to privacy, says U.S. Supreme Court
• New law expands applicant right to know

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Still have questions about Privacy Law? Ask the Lawyer!

 

Stop Costly Lawsuits

• Internet and E-mail Policy and Procedure: Employers that have Internet policies can protect themselves from many claims.
• Managing Within the Law, Part II: A one-day, in-depth training seminar
• Executive Seminars for your CEO, President, and Vice Presidents
• A Manager's Guide to Employee Privacy (book)

 

Know Your Rights

• Your Rights in the Workplace (book)