Can an employer install surveillance cameras near cash registers for security purposes — or in employee restrooms to deter drug use? When is a workplace search legal and when does it violate employee privacy? What about drug tests and polygraph tests?
When it comes to employee privacy, much depends on the facts and circumstances. The stronger the employer reasons for searching, the more likely the search is legal. On the other hand, the stronger the employee’s reasonable expectation of privacy, the more likely the employee is to prevail. The articles in this section explain the legal rules that apply to searches and common search tools.