General Discussion

Snarkoleptic

(5,996 posts)

50. My neighbor works for OfficeMax/OfficeDepot/Staples, or whatever the new monstrosity is called.

Mon May 11, 2015, 08:34 PM

May 2015

He uses his personal cell phone for work and they require him to have the "Airwatch" app on his phone.
Airwatch has "jailbreak" detection, GPS tracking (which cannot be shut off), plus they can also see any photos on the phone, read all of his personal emails and texts.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

141 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Worker fired for disabling GPS app that tracked her 24 hours a day [View all] villager May 2015 OP

Like being on probation treestar May 2015 #1

They have those leg monitors they put on now... malthaussen May 2015 #9

Solution: leave the stupid phone at work Warpy May 2015 #2

Or turn it off. Then, if they retaliate for THAT, here comes the lawsuit :) arcane1 May 2015 #4

Isn't that exactly what allegeldy took place here. LisaL May 2015 #6

Slightly different, as the company issued the phone. arcane1 May 2015 #11

Doesn't sound like she could just turn off GPS tracking feature of the app. LisaL May 2015 #12

She could have turned the phone off ... GeorgeGist May 2015 #20

She claims she was required to keep the phone with her 24/7 to answer calls from clients. LisaL May 2015 #21

Forward all calls to a different phone. Renew Deal May 2015 #23

A very good point! arcane1 May 2015 #24

I'd hate to have a job like that Art_from_Ark May 2015 #33

They can still track your GPS, even with your phone off.n/t fasttense May 2015 #48

not if it's in a Faraday Cage! RoccoR5955 May 2015 #109

I've heard that also. And even if the phone is off it can be turned on remotely, appalachiablue May 2015 #120

The company had no business installing the Big Brother app to begin with meow2u3 May 2015 #106

Remember the guy that traveled in Europe with a dead battery in his I phone? Omaha Steve May 2015 #29

Well shit! I didn't need to hear that today :( arcane1 May 2015 #57

You and me both. A very very dumb phone. nt Hekate May 2015 #81

Yup! Sherman A1 May 2015 #5

Better yet, bvar22 May 2015 #16

That was my thought... dixiegrrrrl May 2015 #42

This message was self-deleted by its author awoke_in_2003 May 2015 #47

How do you do that when you are on call? Forwarding would be the same TheKentuckian May 2015 #116

he might get angry if she doesn't answer JI7 May 2015 #10

So what? 99Forever May 2015 #14

Doesn't sound like he liked it. LisaL May 2015 #18

Typically jobs of this type in this sector... Chan790 May 2015 #35

Gives a whole new meaning to wage slave. n/t fasttense May 2015 #49

$87K per year is hardly "an arm and a leg" groundloop May 2015 #52

^^^ this^^^ n/t BlancheSplanchnik May 2015 #111

Shit, I've been 24/7 365 on call for as low as 29k in the late 90's and never made over 42 on call. TheKentuckian May 2015 #115

I'm fairly certain slavery might still be illegal in the USA... 99Forever May 2015 #140

Yes. What a bloody nerve! Joe Chi Minh May 2015 #44

She claims in her lawsuit she was required to keep the phoen with her 24 hours a day to answer calls LisaL May 2015 #17

did he pay her ablamj May 2015 #30

In theory, yes. Chan790 May 2015 #36

In the military, many of the officer positions require you to be available 24/7. fasttense May 2015 #51

Many bosses demand 24/7 access to employees, particularly of Chiefs of Staff & Admin Assts leveymg May 2015 #28

I know there are jobs like that Warpy May 2015 #73

In territory sales, you work from your home & your car. RiverLover May 2015 #75

Funny, my dad did that while working his way up the ladder Warpy May 2015 #77

I agree! I feel like a serf. A scared serf. RiverLover May 2015 #80

I have a couple friends doing this. BlancheSplanchnik May 2015 #113

Solution: Read the damn story before replying, and you won't say something dumb jeff47 May 2015 #97

Big brother is watching. LisaL May 2015 #3

Since it was company issued phone and not her personal phone, did she have Arkansas Granny May 2015 #7

I don't see anything mentioned either, but sounds like her job involved traveling to customer's LisaL May 2015 #8

Yes, it is in the lawsuit. ohnoyoudidnt May 2015 #22

My neighbor works for OfficeMax/OfficeDepot/Staples, or whatever the new monstrosity is called. Snarkoleptic May 2015 #50

I wouldn't take a job like that SusanCalvin May 2015 #61

Prison, virtual style. I remember reading that 19th c. textile factory workers were charged appalachiablue May 2015 #123

Hope she wins. I can't tell from the suit, though, if it was a company-issued petronius May 2015 #13

Company issued. LisaL May 2015 #15

Lawsuit seems to say it was a personal phone jeff47 May 2015 #99

Manager said he was using the program to continuously monitor her, during company AND personal time. progressoid May 2015 #19

If she was forced to keep it on, then that should be paid overtime. Manifestor_of_Light May 2015 #25

It's in the contract. Chan790 May 2015 #37

This is only true for those covered by the FLSA Major Nikon May 2015 #63

Psychopaths run american corps these days, nothing surprises me randys1 May 2015 #26

That is damned creepy. Jamastiene May 2015 #27

For $7,250 a month 1939 May 2015 #31

That's your price, not sure if you're implying that it should be hers. Ed Suspicious May 2015 #34

I think the larger implication is Lonusca May 2015 #94

Interesting...two good sides to this FLPanhandle May 2015 #32

They have no need to settle unfortunately. Chan790 May 2015 #38

I wonder if the app was part of her work contract. FLPanhandle May 2015 #53

Technology shall make you free! tularetom May 2015 #39

Republicans want to run our government like a business. This is one reason to oppose them. She alfredo May 2015 #40

You don't get 24/7 on call, it isn't the same as simply having a company phone. TheKentuckian May 2015 #117

When clocked out it should have stopped monitoring her movements, but it didn't. alfredo May 2015 #130

I'm not down with it at all. I'm responding to the calls to leave the phone and all that. TheKentuckian May 2015 #134

There are times when you don't want to be found. If she is not paid to be on call, then alfredo May 2015 #135

obidience collar Locrian May 2015 #41

Good one- Slave collar for real. appalachiablue May 2015 #129

$7,250./mo = $1.28 approx/HR @ 24x30.4 days in a month. n/t 2naSalit May 2015 #43

Math FAIL! Munificence May 2015 #76

It is too! 2naSalit May 2015 #139

$7,250 divved by 30.4 by 24 = $9.94/hr druidity33 May 2015 #85

I would love to get paid $9+/hr to sleep, eat, grocery shop, & paid while cleaning my house etc. Sheepshank May 2015 #91

As a Union Steward... druidity33 May 2015 #132

Yeah, something went 2naSalit May 2015 #141

I think you didn't include the decimal point in the 30.4 when you multiplied. nt stevenleser May 2015 #89

Ooops! 2naSalit May 2015 #138

Why would secondvariety May 2015 #45

I can think of a few reasons Major Nikon May 2015 #64

I would have locked it in my desk at the end of my work day and walked away. blackspade May 2015 #46

Set up your company phone to forward all calls to your ladjf May 2015 #54

If you turn your phone off, does the GPS still work? Hoyt May 2015 #55

No, and more importantly, neither does the App brooklynite May 2015 #59

Sounds like the answer. Instead she'll end up blaming the evil corporation for firing her from her Hoyt May 2015 #62

Answer to what? Her phone had to be on so she could take calls from clients, even LisaL May 2015 #68

Late at night? I'm sorry, she was making enough to make a few sacrifices. Hoyt May 2015 #74

Sounds like he was cyberstalking her. alfredo May 2015 #131

Cybetstalking would be different. Still think she should have just quit, or thrown the thing in a Hoyt May 2015 #136

# 48. says GPS still works if the phone is off. appalachiablue May 2015 #125

Then I would have stuck it in a drawer when I got home and left to do whatever I wanted if Hoyt May 2015 #128

Truck drivers have had GPS on their company owned trucks for years. B Calm May 2015 #56

That's different. EL34x4 May 2015 #65

Actually, it's not a bit different. B Calm May 2015 #79

Unless they are required to be in the truck 24/7 it is. whatthehey May 2015 #90

You are responsible for company property and yes you are suppose to be available for dispatch 24/7. B Calm May 2015 #110

I have one of those too, same occupation category... RiverLover May 2015 #58

Ouch FLPanhandle May 2015 #69

I've been with them almost 7 years. Started with a Blackberry then upgraded to iphone. RiverLover May 2015 #71

I remember getting my first pager Lonusca May 2015 #93

There would be at least two, if not three more zeroes added to the penalty if I'm on that jury. 20score May 2015 #60

Agree! KT2000 May 2015 #70

Or being treated badly for going to the "wrong" church Mariana May 2015 #96

If I were on the jury, she'd be freakin' OWNING that company meow2u3 May 2015 #108

Yup yup yup. This! RedCappedBandit May 2015 #118

I wonder if he could access the camera too. Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #66

Good for her PowerToThePeople May 2015 #67

If California made this illegal, could a corporation sue California in TPP-ISDR tribunals for loss Faryn Balyncd May 2015 #72

I find it very disturbing the way Employers are trying to control employees off the clock. diabeticman May 2015 #78

Oh brave new world, that has such people in it. Ugh. nt Hekate May 2015 #82

Brave new Hell. appalachiablue May 2015 #126

Contact information eridani May 2015 #83

You need to be fluent in Spanish to use the 800 numbers n/t eridani May 2015 #84

brave new world dembotoz May 2015 #86

I thought in a "right to work" state a person could be fired with no explanation. In other words patricia92243 May 2015 #87

That's an interesting point. RiverLover May 2015 #88

Yes, but that doesn't mean they can not provide an explanation. jeff47 May 2015 #98

Discrimination of a protected class or druidity33 May 2015 #133

Well she should collect enough retirement money for a good life malaise May 2015 #92

I can't think of many jobs where this sort of thing might be acceptable... hunter May 2015 #95

Agree this is abusive, but unlikely to change in a very loose labor market. Employers call appalachiablue May 2015 #124

Stupid is carrying your work issued cell phone while off duty Stinky The Clown May 2015 #100

Stupid is not bothering to read the article jeff47 May 2015 #101

Fine quit, and go find another job with an $85+K annual salary. Hoyt May 2015 #103

She didn't quit. She was fired. LisaL May 2015 #105

She should have just quit rather than breaking the rules, as stupid as rules were. Hoyt May 2015 #112

Rude is stating your disagreement in that manner Stinky The Clown May 2015 #122

So Hoyt calling someone stupid is just fine, but Hoyt not bothering to jeff47 May 2015 #137

While Ars is going to focus on the "tech" part of the story, we're ignoring something jeff47 May 2015 #102

unacceptable Liberal_in_LA May 2015 #104

its not a guestion of taking a job like this olddots May 2015 #107

She COULD have had some "fun" with her boss... PCIntern May 2015 #114

Not really, she'd then just be fired for not being available or responsive. TheKentuckian May 2015 #119

It was a JOKE... PCIntern May 2015 #121

Suddenly "American Beauty" is brought to mind... villager May 2015 #127