Philip Dorling reports: The Community and Public Sector Union has called for two independent inquiries into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s system of secret personnel files. DFAT staff have expressed concern that the department has quietly re-established a system of secret personnel files similar to a highly controversial system, known as the ”X-files”,…
Humboldt suspends police chief as DCI starts probe
Tom Barton reports: Humboldt’s police chief has been suspended over allegations that he improperly used driver’s license and criminal history information available only to law enforcement officials. City Administrator Lorie Bennett on Friday confirmed that state crime agents have launched an investigation of Police Chief Matthew Dominick, who was suspended Monday for up to 30…
OH: Employer’s DNA test rule raises legal concerns
Judy Greenwald reports: The University of Akron is expected to soon rescind a controversial rule that lets the university demand DNA samples from job applicants as part of a criminal background check. Observers say the requirement—believed to be the first genetic testing rule imposed by an employer—violates the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and the Americans…
Some Courts Raise Bar on Reading Employee Email
Dionne Searcey has a piece in the Wall Street Journal describing some court cases on whether employers can read employee email. While it is safest to assume that you will have no privacy and that your boss can access anything you do on their computers, the courts have not always ruled that way, especially if…