PogoWasRight - Employment and Privacy

Florida High School Teacher Fired Over Internet Pictures and Part-Time Work

Mon, 05 May 2008 09:31:06 -0400

We have seen a disturbing increase in police department and schools firing people over their conduct in their private time and lives. We can now add the case of Tiffany Shepherd, a Biology high school teacher from Port St Lucie, Florida. When school officials saw the photos linked below, they fired Shepherd who worked as a �bikini girl� on charter fishing boats.

It appears that some charter boats have bikini girls who sometimes work topless. Shepherd is accused of working such a part-time job. Due to the continuing meager salaries given to teachers, many work part time to be able to continue to teach. My question is why Shepherd�s part-time job is anyone�s business so long as it is legal.

Source - Jonathan Turley

Update. See ABC News for a different version of the district's actions. Whether this is a privacy issue or not remains to be determined, I guess. -- Dissent.

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Fingerprinting program threatens privacy for CPAs, accountants

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:45:04 -0400

Accountants and certified public accountants are in an uproar over a new program instituted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that forces those seeking certification to be fingerprinted.

Worse still, fingerprints will be stored by a soon-to-be foreign corporation.

For the first time in its 121-year history, the venerable American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is forcing examinees across the country to either submit to being fingerprinted or be barred from the exam process, regardless of other identification presented.

Accountants should think twice before taking the CPA exam until this program is rescinded. I am challenging the national accounting board over its new forced fingerprint collection program, and I am far from alone.

Source - Alaska Journal of Commerce

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Public Works employee sues over GPS use

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 08:55:35 -0400

City of Modesto administrators placed a satellite tracking device on a truck assigned to a Public Works Department employee four months after he became the leader of the Modesto City Employees Association, confidential records show.

MCEA President Tom McCarthy is in the midst of a complaint against the city that he filed with the state labor board. He claims the city tried to interfere with union activ-ity in violation of state law, and he wants the city to rescind a threatened 10-day suspension.

Source - Modbee.com

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Whirlpool suspends 39 workers, says they lied about smoking

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:35:52 -0400

Smoking can be hazardous to your health, and it's turning into a bad career move, too.

A Whirlpool Corp. factory in Evansville, Ind., has suspended 39 workers who signed insurance paperwork claiming they don't use tobacco and then were seen smoking or chewing tobacco on company property. Now, some could be fired for lying, company spokeswoman Debby Castrale said.

As annual health care premiums rise more than 10 percent a year, many companies are trying to rein in costs by encouraging healthy living.

"I can't think of a client of ours who has not shifted their focus to controlling the cost of their health care plan," said Indianapolis benefits lawyer Mike Paton.

Some employers have developed wellness programs to motivate employees, while others ask employees to state on benefits forms whether they use tobacco.

Source - FindLaw

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MI: State law jeopardizes medical privacy for school employees

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:52:16 -0400

Medical privacy for public school employees in at least one district has been jeopardized by a new state law, a troubling twist in the continuing controversy over Public Act 106.

Scores of districts have sought bids from prospective health insurers since P.A. 106 took effect, as the law requires. However, MEA recently learned of a case that confirms concerns about medical privacy raised last fall when the Legislature debated the proposal, then known as Senate Bill 418.

Some employees in Van Buren County�s Lawton school district were recently ordered to provide medical history and other private information about themselves, their spouses and dependents. The information went to an independent health insurance agent hired by the district; the agent presumably planned to use the information to provide a bid for health insurance, even though the employees� current contract is in effect until 2009.

Source - Michigan Education Association Press Release

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US judge rules against New York City taxi drivers in GPS battle

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:56:21 -0400

First, a two-day strike ended with no concessions to taxi drivers protesting requirements for global positioning and credit-card processing systems. Then a federal judge declined to block the new technology rule.

With the requirements set to start taking effect Monday, it was not clear what the objecting drivers' next move might be. The full merits of the case are yet to be argued, and U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman directed both sides to engage in settlement negotiations before an Oct. 10 court date.

Source - International Herald Tribune

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