California law protects all state employees regarding privacy at work. Which means that employers are prohibited from violating certain privacy of their workers or else they could be sued by them.
It is allowed to some extent to monitor or ask for information about employees but it is important that the organization you work for does not exceed some limits.
Most common security violations in the workplace
- Internet: Although employers have the right to monitor the way their workers use company-provided computers, their company mail, and the use of documents related to company privacy, they do not have to review the private use of the internet or your activity on social networks.
- Finance: The only access that the company has to the financial information of an employee should be that knowledge related to their payroll receipts, but they should not review the activity in their personal accounts, credits that they request or other elements related to their personal finances and the way you use your money.
- Cell phones: Employers are not allowed to search your personal devices nor should they ask you to access your passwords, emails or private networks that have nothing to do with the company.
- Personal information: Any personal information that does not have to do with the company does not have to be shared with your superiors. In the same way, revealing personal information that you have provided and disclosing it, may be grounds for a lawsuit since said information is considered confidential.
- Medical reports, criminal records or drug tests: They should not request any type of report or record without first having made an official job proposal and being an employee, only under some exceptions, it is allowed to request any test or report related to these areas.
In case your privacy has been violated, you can approach an employment law attorney. At Lara & Luna APC we are ready to help.