Delaware Employment Law Blog

Can I read my employees' e-mails? Labor and employment attorneys get this question often. It's not as common, though, that the possible cyber-sleuth is a co-worker rather than a member of management. Recent drama at the news desk of Philadelphia's CBS 3 fits this unusual profile. 

The First of the Fallen Anchors

Long-time CBS news anchor, Larry Mendte, is under federal investigation.  He is suspected of reading the e-mails of former co-anchor, Alycia Lane.  After Lane was involved in several scandals of her own, her employment contract was terminated after she allegedly assaulted a plain-clothes police officer in New York City, and using a homophobic slur. See my earlier post, Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha’ Gonna Do When They Work for You?, for more details on the Alycia Lane scandal.

The Cyber-Scandal Spreads

And now attention has been turned to Lane's former colleague, Larry Mendte.  Late last week, Mendte and CBS News learned that he was being being investigated for snooping through Lane's e-mail.  Reading others' e-mails without permission or privilege is a federal crime.  (Last week we discussed Delaware's state law, which requires employers to provide written notice of their intent to monitor employees' e-mails.  See Employers' Policies on Technology in the Workplace).

Mendte's home computer was seized by the FBI as part of the probate.  CBS 3 issued the following statement yesterday:

Late last week, CBS 3 became aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office regarding anchor Larry Mendte. CBS 3 is cooperating fully with that office in this matter. Mr. Mendte will not be on CBS 3's broadcasts pending further investigation.

While the investigation is ongoing, Mendte has been dethroned. It doesn't seem so positive.  Mendte's lawyer said yesterday, "We hope to work together with CBS 3 to reach a mutually agreeable resolution as to his status." 

That does not sound good.

Get Consent to Monitor Employees' E-Mails or Risk a Mendte-Style Result

Let this be a word of warning to any employer who may be inclined to search their employees' e-mails without complying with state and federal notice requirements.  Cyber-sleuthing has serious consequences.

And if you learn that another employee has been snooping through a co-workers electronic data, including e-mails, act quickly and seriously.  Take a page from CBS 3 and consider suspending the employee until your investigation is complete.

Workplace privacy concerns aren't limited to technology.  There's been lots of buzz about GPS tracking of employees, use of biometric data in time and attendance programs, and, of course, electronic monitoring of employees' e-mails, and Internet usage. As the case below demonstrates, privacy concerns don't require hi-tech equipment or software.  Just a whole lot of nosey.

A Sordid Affair

The story centers around a Wal-Mart supervisor who had engaged in an improper affair with a co-worker.  Not only was the affair illicit but it also violated Wal-Mart's anti-fraternization policy.  The supervisor was terminated when the company discovered the relationship.  Now, the termination alone might raise a few eyebrows.  But, policy is policy, and the supervisor's relationship was in violation of policy (as well as really bad managerial skills), the company can and should take disciplinary action. 

I Spy (well, Wal-Mart spied, actually)

Where the story becomes truly noteworthy, though, is exactly how Wal-Mart came to first learn about the "violation."  It hired a private investigator to track the couple.  The investigator did just that; following them all the way to a rendezvous hideaway in Central America.

And Then Came the Lawsuit

The romantic and unemployed supervisor filed suit in Arkansas state court alleging violation of contract and wrongful termination based on public policy.  The contract claim was swiftly rejected.  The termination claim, based on the allegation that he was fired in retaliation for reporting Wal-Mart's failure to comply with it's own internal policies regarding factory certification, was equally unpersuasive.  Summary judgment was granted in favor of Wal-Mart, which was subsequently affirmed by the Arkansas Court of Appeals. 

The legal claims asserted in the lawsuit were pretty blasé when compared with the sordid facts that got him terminated in the first place.  Based on the appellate court's decision, the claims seem doomed from the start.  I have to wonder whether the plaintiff wouldn't have been better off asserting a state-law privacy claim. 

The case is Lynn v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., No. 07-384 (Ark. App. Ct. Mar. 19, 2008), and a hat tip to the Workplace Profs Blog, who spotted this one back in April.

Genetic testing is a key advance in preventative health care. But opponents of DNA testing worry about privacy issues--that employers may use genetic data in making employment decisions. The Genetic Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 (GINA) is intended to prevent that.

The Act was unanimously accepted by the Senate with a vote of 95-0. After final approval from the House, it will go to the President's desk for signature. It could be signed into law as early as next week. The act will protect individuals against discrimination based on their genetic information when it comes to health insurance and employment. These protections are intended to encourage Americans to take advantage of genetic testing as part of their medical care. The purpose of GINA is to ensure that anyone who gets genetic screening tests will be protected from having that information shared with health insurers or employers. Up until now, individuals who tested positive for a certain type of cancer gene could be denied insurance coverage or employment based on his or predisposition to developing cancer years down the road.

“It means that people whose genetic profiles put them at risk of cancer and other serious conditions can get tested and seek treatment without fear of losing their privacy, their jobs, and their health insurance,”

said Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).

The debate is not a new one--the bill was rejected more than 10 times before it passed. And during those 10+ years, Delaware passed its own genetic antidiscrimination law. Delaware is one of 35 states to prohibit genetic discrimination in employment. State laws typically protect "genetic information." A number of states, including Delaware, have passed or are considering bills that expressly include and requests for genetic services. The Delaware law also makes it unlawful for an employer to "intentionally collect" genetic information unless it can be demonstrated that the information is job-related and consistent with business necessity or is sought in connection with a bona fide employee welfare or benefit plan.

Of the 35 states with these laws, though, there has not been a single suit filed on the grounds of "genetic descrimination," although the EEOC did settle a genetic-discrimination claim that was filed under the Americans With Disabilities Act. In that case, the employer, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, was alleged to have obtained blood samples from employees that would later be used for genetic testing, unbeknownst to the employees. The employer ceased the conduct within days of receiving the EEOC's complaint and eventually settled the suit.

Additional Resources:
The National Conference of State Legislatures maintains a comprehensive website on laws dealing with genetics and genetic testing if you're interested in where your state currently stands.

But the most detailed resource, by far is that of the National Human Genome Research Institute, (NHGRI) at genome.gov. The NHGRI's site inlcudes dozens of helpful explanations about just about everything genetic--including the legal, social, and ethical implications of genetic testing.

To review GINA's passage through the House and Senate, visit thomas.loc.gov.

From a women's health perspective, U.S. News & World Report's Deborah Kotz's article is a worthy read.

And, as always, our friends at HR Hero has a whole cache of easy-to-read and to-the-point articles on the Genetic Testing page of their website.

Employee-privacy advocates are not in favor of biometrics in the workplace. But many employers do not share the concern. Biometrics are being used in workplaces across the country for purposes ranging from security to timekeeping and attendance.

What are Biometrics?

You may not know it, but you have probably seen biometrics in use numerous times. Catch any modern spy movie and there is sure to be a scene where the main character accesses the inevitable Restricted Area using the fingerprint of a dead man via a "borrowed" digit. Or maybe the triple-secret bank vault can be opened only via a a retina scan of the bank's Very Important President. You get the idea.

Biometrics run the gamut from simple to NASA-level technology. Biometrics on the most basic level could include simple ID badges with the employee's mug-shot style photograph. Signatures are even included in biometrics that are used as a security measure. Today, employers utilize password-management systems that require employees to regularly change their personal passwords in order to access the company's network.

The term "biometrics" refers to a method of authenticating the identity of an individual using enduring physical or behavioural characteristics. Any system that utilizes biometrics relies on the use of biometric identifiers. Also known as "BIs," biometric identifiers are select pieces of information that relay an encrypted picture of some unique feature of the person's biological makeup. Common BIs include fingerprints, retinal scans and voice scans.

Other identifiers that have been suggested and used include: hands, feet, faces, ears, teeth, veins, voices, signatures, typing styles (keystroke), gaits and odors.

How Effective Are Biometrics?

In the employment context, biometrics are used as an authentication tool. The BI is compared to the authenticated BI, which is stored in a database. Used this way, biometrics offer a nearly infallible security system. Unlike traditional security measures, like passwords or security badges, biometrics cannot be shared, lost, forgotten, stolen, or recreated.

But there are security risks for the user. For example, the authenticating, or original, data must be kept as secure as possible, which usually means not being sent wirelessly. And, if it is sent across a network, encryption should be at a maximum. As a compromise, systems often provide for a larger margin of error. And, unlike passwords and security questions, biometrics cannot be changed or revoked when the employment relationship ends.

What Else Could Go Wrong?

Well, lots, actually. Unauthorized access to highly sensitive personal information raises very legitimate concerns about identity theft--a problem that already has employers on high alert for potential liability. And, without any regulatory system in place, what about the potential privacy implications? Surely, employees will want to know what other information can be obtained should the wrong person have access to the database.

Not As Futuristic As You Might Think

Use of biometrics in the workplace is not just for the big screen. Biometrics as a timekeeping system have already been implemented in companies such as Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's franchises. Biometrics as a security trackings system are being used at some Marine Corps bases. And cities and municipalities across the country use biometrics to track public employees for timekeeping and security.

As you might imagine, there are lots of voices in opposition of biometrics in the workplace. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), has been one of the strongest. Labor unions also oppose this use of technology. Privacy and employee-rights advocates are equally unenthusiastic.

But advocates of biometrics (and the companies that make and sell biometrics-based systems), point to increased accountability and reduced employee fraud as the starting point for major cost savings and productivity.

We'll have to keep an eye (or, in this case, a retina) on the use of biometrics at work.

For additional information, see More Employers Scanning Workers' Hands
Biometric Technology Replacing Timecards; Employers Tout Efficiency, Unions Cry Foul a recent article on the CBS News website.