Something Stolen At Work? Here Are Three Search Issues That Can Lead To Legal Action

When your employer learns that someone at your place of work has stolen something, there are many paths that he or she can take. While some employers might call the police, many will take things into their own hands and begin to search their staff members. If you didn't steal anything, whether it was money from petty cash, an important document, or something else, you might not mind consenting to a search. However, there are good and bad ways to search staff, and if you feel as though your employer crossed a line, you might wish to contact an employment attorney for advice about how to proceed. Here are three types of searches that could lead to legal action against your employer.

Physical Search

You have reason to be upset if you were roughly searched in a physical manner. For example, perhaps one manager physically restrained you while another went through your pockets or even patted you down. Both approaches are highly unprofessional, and violate your rights as an employee of the company. This is especially true if you attempted to free yourself from the grasp of the manager but he or she worked hard to hang onto you.

Inappropriate Search

Some workplace searches can get highly inappropriate. For example, if your manager believes that you have taken something, he or she may barge in on you while you're in the bathroom with the hope of seeing that you have something hidden on your person. Or, the manager might corner you in an office and ask you to remove some of your clothing, for example, perhaps lifting up your shirt to show that you don't have anything tucked into your waist. This is another violation of your privacy and if it has occurred, you definitely need to talk to an employment attorney.

Break-In Search

It's possible that your manager may break into property of yours in an effort to see if you stole the item in question. A common example occurs outside of the office, but still on the company's property. For example, your boss might feel as though you hid the stolen property in your vehicle, and thus breaks into your vehicle, perhaps using a coat hanger to unlock the door, and then goes through the vehicle's interior. This is another invasion of privacy, as well as an act that borders on illegal in its own right. An employment attorney can represent you in filing action against your employer if you've been searched in these ways.

For more information, contact an attorney such as those at John H. Haskin & Associates, LLC today.