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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Posts
    1

    Default Can an Employee Enter Work After Hours and Snoop on a Supervisor

    My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: Washington

    Hello there,

    My question is: Is a staff member of an organization legally allowed to enter a place if business after hours to snoop and through both the Executive Director, and the Veterinarian/managers office. Rummaging though paper work, and documenting what they found by taking videos and pictures? If so, what gives an employee the right to search their senior management teams office? I should also add that this is a non profit organization. There are no owners, just a board of directors.

    Thank you

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Privacy Rights of an Executive Director and Veterinarian

    Of course it's legal. No crime here. No law preventing it.

    Might be breach of a company policy. Might not be if there was no company policy.

    The employee apparently has keys and access and the executives didn't bother to lock up what they wanted to keep private. Ergo, no privacy rights if you don't take even the simplest precautions.

    If you are smart, you'll fire this employee right now (by phone, email, and letter) and change the locks immediately so he/she can't get in.

    Non-profit has nothing to do with anything.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    38,867

    Default Re: Privacy Rights of an Executive Director and Veterinarian

    Quote Quoting adjusterjack
    View Post
    Of course it's legal. No crime here. No law preventing it.

    Might be breach of a company policy. Might not be if there was no company policy.

    The employee apparently has keys and access and the executives didn't bother to lock up what they wanted to keep private. Ergo, no privacy rights if you don't take even the simplest precautions.

    If you are smart, you'll fire this employee right now (by phone, email, and letter) and change the locks immediately so he/she can't get in.

    Non-profit has nothing to do with anything.
    Not necessarily true at all. In most businesses employees do not have free run of
    the business when off the clock. Unless authorized to be in the establishments during off hours the employee could be guilty of a variety of crimes.

    Having a key doesn't mean they are alllowed access anytime they desire.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Can an Employee Enter Work After Hours and Snoop on a Supervisor

    If the employee violated work rules, the employer can discipline or fire the employee.

    If the employer does not have a problem with the employee's actions, then it's over.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    24,521

    Default Re: Can an Employee Enter Work After Hours and Snoop on a Supervisor

    It is legal in the sense that no law prohibits it.

    However, it is unquestionably a firing offense. Just because it is not prohibited by law doesn't mean the employer has to tolerate it.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Can an Employee Enter Work After Hours and Snoop on a Supervisor

    I agree. We give you access to the building (and in some cases computers) because we establish a trust. Anybody violating that trust is indeed a firing offense.
    Non-profits aren't any different with this regard.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Posts
    4,301

    Default Re: Can an Employee Enter Work After Hours and Snoop on a Supervisor

    Entering an area where they haven't been given access to may well fall under the criminal trespass laws of your state. But nothing gives the the right to do it and they should certainly be fired immediately.

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