Can lockers at work be searched without employee being there by the employer?
2007-11-09 23:03:39 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It's a good question, I'm not sure of the answer, but I've had mine searched while I've not been there. My worry has always been, that if you upset someone who can gain access to your locker, they may slip something in it!
2007-11-09 23:09:31 · answer #1 · answered by James M 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
With good reason, yes!
The lockers and the premises are the property of the employer. If the employer suspects that the locker contains drugs, stolen goods, explosives etc. you bet they can open them without the employees permission or him/her being present.
Under normal circumstances the employer would have very little interest in the lockers unless there was a terrible smell emanating from it or a complaint had been raised or a suspicion was brought to their attention.
2007-11-09 23:15:46 · answer #2 · answered by Pammie 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The answer is NO, lockers at work shouldn't be search without the permission or the presence of the employee, this is a standard rule on civil rights in every country, this is clearly an invasion of your privacy as an individual working in the company.
2007-11-10 01:46:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not a straight forward answer.
A company cannot search either your locker or your computer for personal e-mails etc merely because they want to.
However, if there is suspicion, evidence or "reasonable doubt" of wrong-doing or something against the company's interests they can ask the employee to reveal the contents - with the employee present AND a trade union representative or fellow employee present if requested.
However, you may have signed away your rights for this privacy in your employment contract. Better check!
2007-11-09 23:14:55 · answer #4 · answered by Luke Warnes 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Yes, a locker is considered company property (just as a computer is, no matter if you have personal files on there or not) unless otherwise stated in the employee contract.
2007-11-09 23:08:09 · answer #5 · answered by Scott 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It seems to me that if the lockers belong to the employer, then yes he can.
2007-11-10 00:36:42 · answer #6 · answered by sister_godzilla 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends whether there's a policy in your workplace for this. In my job, nobody's ever searched my locker but our internet activity is monitored and every few days, I.T. runs a scan of our computers to make sure there are no mp3s or illegal software on them. In my friend's workplace, some staff got fired for sending jokes around by email. Harsh but as the law stands, your employer owns your email address and your computer and they're entitled to see what you're at when you're on their premises.
2007-11-09 23:15:25 · answer #7 · answered by Sniffer D 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
At the company I work for yes they can but there has to be a member of HR present if the employee isn't.
2007-11-09 23:07:03 · answer #8 · answered by Pat 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, if the company owns the locker and the property it sits on, you bet, sir.
2007-11-09 23:07:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You're on their property. It's like with your work e-mails. There really isn't much privacy involved.
2007-11-09 23:12:12 · answer #10 · answered by Mike T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋