Privacy is on everyone’s minds today. With evolving technology and exposure of sensitive and private personal information coming from a number of different angles, the least you can expect is respect and privacy in the workplace. But, what happens when that privacy is violated?
Privacy can be violated in the workplace in a number of different ways. You work hard for your paycheck and deserve the respect to come to work, fulfill your duties, and go home to a private life as you choose. When that veil is broken and your determination to separate your work from your private life falls short, you could have a tort-based claim against your employer for the violation of privacy.
Exposing Private Information in the Workplace
Employees have a number of confidential interactions with human resources and management/executive-level employees within their workplaces. Those interactions must be designed to remain confidential, but there are two ways that confidentiality is frequently broken: through poorly designed systems without the necessary protections and by acts carried out by those who have a duty to uphold confidentiality. In both situations, you could have a right to compensation through a Tennessee employment law case.
In one scenario, leadership at your company has failed to establish and implement policies that protect private information and keep it confidential by mitigating risks of exposure. This could be a situation where a private file was sent to the wrong email, left open on a desk in a common area, or even left on an unlocked computer to be seen by anyone who looks. In the other, the very people who are meant to protect your privacy have made a choice, intentional or not, to expose the private information you shared with them. This includes situations where a manager intentionally disclosed confidential personal information to disparage (or even compliment) an employee or where a manager accidentally exposes private information through the course of conversation.
In both situations, it’s important to talk to a Tennessee employment law attorney to discuss your options when your personal information has been compromised at work. This can be frustrating and embarrassing, and even create a hostile work environment that’s untenable to return to. In some cases, the private information may escalate to the level of sexual harassment or even employment discrimination and retaliation, depending on the context.
Excessive Monitoring and Prying Into Your Personal Life
Another level of privacy violations in the workplace happens when your employer attempts to probe too far into your personal life. Workplaces are allowed to make employment decisions based on publicly available information, such as arrest records, but some employers try to push too far by monitoring private decisions and attempting to influence the choices you make outside of your time at work.
Attempting to force employees to install GPS tracking devices on private devices or vehicles that can be accessed when you’re not working, for example, is generally a step too far. The same is true if they ask for log-in access to private devices, even if it’s under the guise of protecting company information (especially if no company information is accessible on the device).
This also highlights the importance of reviewing your employment contracts before signing them. Some employers attempt to subvert privacy laws by forcing new hires to sign away certain privacy rights. While contract language can certainly complicate things, it does not mean your rights are completely written off.
If you feel like your workplace has gone too far and violated your privacy rights and your right to act as a private citizen in Tennessee, contact Hunter Law Firm to discuss your options and explore ways to get compensation for the wrongs you’ve been exposed to. You don’t just need an attorney; you need an advocate for your story.
