Can you sue an employer if you find out they are checking up on your love life outside of work?

Question

Also, if individuals at work are spreading rumors about you and your employer does nothing to stop it?

Answer 1

Yes, with caution, to both questions. If your employer is checking on your personal life for no legitimate reason, you can sue for an invasion of privacy. However, the note of caution is that your personal life is a legitimate area of inquiry for high security jobs and law enforcement. I think the question for those jobs is related to whether or not you have done something that would make you susceptible to blackmail or bribery. If other employees are spreading rumors about you and it has to do with race, religion, ethnicity and similar matters, you can file a complaint with your state's Human Rights Department or with the EEOC (that's federal). If the rumors are making it difficult to work, it is a hostile work environment and that's another cause of action, even if it has nothing to do with race, religion, etc. You employer has an obligation to make the workplace emotionally comfortable for you. But you must be a person of "reasonable" emotions to be able to sue for hostile work place environment. In other words, if you are upset about something that would not upset the "reasonable person", you do not have a claim. The good thing to know about the EEOC and the Human Rights Commission is that you do not need an attorney. If they substantiate your claim, they supply the attorney to pursue the case.

Answer 2

Depends on what you do.

In the military you sign away the right to a private life and you can be kicked out for adultery, homosexuality etc.

If you are in a medical profession they may demand you receive HIV testing more often with the results going to them to continue working there.

If you work in any field where you have a security rating for the company one part of getting it is signing an okay to them investigating you. I would imagine that even as a cashier at Wal-Mart they have to monitor you a little since you have access to so many people's personal information. Your love life can lead to extortion etc and the eventual loss of company secrets so they do it there too.

If you are a teacher many contracts have a clause stating that you have to maintain a high moral character as defined by the school district.

If you work for a church or church group they quite often hire people with the obvious understanding that they must behave in a manner consistent with the stated values of the organization.

It sounds like you are in a really bad situation. If you've already talked to your boss about the rumors and have tried discussing the situation with the rumor monger it may be time to resign and start somewhere new.

Answer 3

I think that you may have some recourse on these matters.

Is there a human resources department? Talk to them.

If the rumor is that you are sleeping with the bosses spouse or child, AND the rumor is true. I think I'd try to lay low for a while.

Answer 4

Those folks wouldn't know those things if you didn't tell them, unless of course you used their computer to carry on.