Retailers searching employees for cell phones?

[DaveJ]

This seemed a bit odd to me. A friend of mine who works at one of the eviler big box stores said that since it is against the rules to have cell phones while working there, they often get a pat down search. Before a company meeting all the clerks were searched. Really odd since I tend to doubt that a meeting for retail clerks at a big box store holds much valuable secret information.

The employees refer to the store as the "concentration camp."

Is that the world we live in today? We are free only when we are on our own time... but we have to work to survive... so while we work (most our waking hours) all of our rights to privacy is handed over?

What is the point of 'rights' and 'freedoms' when there is no respect for them while people are at work, where they MUST spend most their time in order to survive?

Should we just be happy to have 3 hours of freedom a day?

[LostinVA]

1. It's probably to keep clerks from texting and calling from the floor

And, nothing to do with secret corporate information.

[DaveJ]

2. Both are the case...

The pat down was in a closed door meeting to prevent recording with cell phones and gadgets. They call the meetings 'bitch sessions' because all the manager does is mentally beat down everyone for all their mistakes.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. If people weren't such assholes with their phones, there wouldn't be a problem.

But I get righteously pissed off when I'm in a store and need help, whether from a clerk in the aisles or the cashier, and the fuckbag is on a cellphone.

Fuck that.

If it were my store, that asshole would be out the door.

[DaveJ]

4. Then report the employee...

Are you saying that since you get annoyed by someone talking to another person when you want service... then it's alright for people to give up their privacy and get searched while at work?

The usual method of dealing with the situation is to mention the problem to a manager.

[Bunny]

5. I have a problem with being searched, but I have no problem with

requiring employees to leave their phones in their lockers or wherever when there is a staff meeting they have to attend. Too much risk of being recorded without your knowledge, which is illegal in many states.

My ex-SO works overnight as a stocker in a local supermarket. He is forbidden to carry his cellphone while he's working. He has to leave it in the employee locker room. He doesn't get searched, but this is an overnight stock boy job, and he is forbidden to have his cell phone. Personally I think that's a bit of overkill since the store is closed to customers when he's working, but I guess that's their policy.

[DaveJ]

6. There's a reason why they don't want to be recorded....

That's because they treat people in a demoralizing, emotionally abusive manner, that I'm sure sometimes crosses the border of being illegal.

I have no expectation whatsoever of pleasant customer service from people who are treated this way.

This is not just about the fact that they are searched but their overall treatment.

It's really shocking that so few on the DU seem to even care.

[China_cat]

7. You aren't even free on your own time

with companies now firing people for smoking in their own homes on their own time and other 'infractions'.

[LeftyMom]

8. I'm so glad nobody at one of my old jobs thought of this

I used to work for BestBuy, and I had a manager who would have loved that. At least until he got fired for looking at porn at work. That place was perv central. :puke:

[sasquatch]

10. "That place was perv central."

Oh and the lounge is any better:D

[LeftyMom]

11. I can leave the lounge.

We also seem to have less of a problem with the mods and admins knocking up the proles. :shrug:

[jmowreader]

9. A pat down search?

Come on. That's far beyond the pale.