Tracking App Misused to Stalk Workers Out-of-Hours

MaFt

A worker in California is suing her employer for invasion of privacy and retaliation after she was fired for uninstalling a smartphone app required for work. The app, by Xora, is a requirement of Intermex and is used for clocking in and out of work as well as providing employees locations.

Myrna Arias had no problem with the app being used during working hours but it transpired that the GPS tracking was still running even when she 'clocked out' of work. Her boss even admitted to her colleagues that he constantly monitored her location and even told people what speed she was currently travelling.

While there are possibly some grey areas in this regard, it is clear that using an app to monitor your employees can be a valuable asset but it is equally clear that, in this case, a line was crossed - one with potentially severe consequences.

Does your employer require any sort of personal or vehicle tracking? Feel free to discuss in the forums!

Original story from ArsTechnica

storeman · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 25, 2004 Posts: 6

How would bosses feel if the employees could track them to make sure that they were doing what they should ?

There should be a certain amount of trust between employer and employee and in the story above there is obviously zero trust on the employers side. I disagree with any kind of tracking of employees except for genuine safety & security reasons for instance in vans carrying money to and from premises or similar circumstances.

Trackers fitted to company vehicles was the reason I declined a job offer as during the interview the employer gave reasons for trackers being fitted.....

1) so that they know if you have been where you say you have been at the time you claim to have been there.
2) so they can confirm your mileage records
3)if you have an accident and connot be contacted they can locate you.

Yes the third reason is a good one but when it comes 3rd against the two that basically says we believe you are going to cheat us then it isn't wrth bothering about.

Kremmen · Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 2:39 pm Post subject:

If it is part of the employment then the phone, with app installed, should be provided. The employee can then leave the phone at home or turned off and use their own personal phone out of hours.

Simples Very Happy

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storeman · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 25, 2004 Posts: 6

Simple but besides the point, they shouldn't be tracking outside of working hours and even more important, shouldn't be discussing the details of that tracking.

BritBrat · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 20, 2008 Posts: 40

Leave it at work.

percy1 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 16, 2006 Posts: 1

If this was part of her contract to have this app, and for it to be active 24/7 then should she not be paid for a 24hr day this would solve a problem and make her rich. This could also be called STALKING and her boss could be prosecuted. Question

PaulWH · Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 10:46 pm Post subject:

I can see that an app like this could be useful for example parents wanting to know where their kids are.

M8TJT · Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 7:01 am Post subject:

Kremmen · Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 1:13 pm Post subject:

We use Real Time GPS Tracker to see where the family are. Very useful for checking progress home to time dinner Very Happy

However, it can be turned off by stopping the tracking service on the phone.

If the app can't be turned off then only carry or have the phone on when at work.
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