"Tracking Device "

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My boss suspects that one of my coworkers is using a company van after hours for side work of his own. He wants me to install a gps tracking device that he got in my coworkers van without telling him. I think he should just ask him. Is this legal? Can I get in trouble ? I know companies can have these in their vehicles but don't the employees need to be told?This just don't feel right.
 
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If the company owns the van they can do whatever they want. If the boss asks about it the other guy can just say no and quit doing it. If the boss catches him he can be held liable for the costs he's incurred for the company. I wouldn't protect someone stealing from my boss.
 
I would send send a registered letter to yourself stating what your boss told you to do. Sign for the letter and never open it. Its dated and can be handed over if you are ever in litigation about it.
 
Originally Posted By: SilverGt
I don't want to protect my coworker I'm just not sure it's legal?


Why wouldn't it be legal?

The OWNER of the van wants to monitor its use.

Your coworker consented to monitoring by operating company property. If he doesn't want to be monitored, he can simply leave the van parked, and take his car.
 
Pretty sure it's pretty simple to install a tracking device. When I worked in corporate, there was no expectation of privacy with company equipment. We'd break into users mailboxes if their bossed needed something after they left. Or HR used to ask me what time someone logged in and out of the system, I think they fired a few people for leaving early. I'd have no problems doing it. Perfectly legal for them to track their own equipment.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
They do that with every 18 wheeler you see.


Exactly!

And, I might add, every piece of equipment that's bigger.

Consent to monitoring is part of the conditions of employment.
 
It's 100% LEGAL to install a device. It's YOUR "BOSSES" van, not his. Your buddy is literally stealing it at night to run his own business, using your bosses gas too. What else might he be stealing??? Why don't he tell his boss that he takes it? 'Cause he'll say no.
 
Completely legal. There's a tracker on every work van in the company I work for. Every time I leave or arrive at my house my boss's phone will ping. Every time we arrive and leave at a building, again boss's phone will ping. Can pull up where the van is at any point in time, also tracks speed and if you're wearing a seat belt.
 
I see nothing illegal about installing a tracking device, but I believe the boss needs to tell his employees that the device has been installed, which basically makes the device useless....
 
Originally Posted By: SilverGt
I don't want to protect my coworker I'm just not sure it's legal?


Companies monitor employees all the time. A great example is keystroke programs on the company's computing resources. They know everywhere you've been on your computer and they know the time etc. when you were there. The company I worked for had them they fired several employees for being on child porn sites. One of those employee's belonged to me.
 
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Originally Posted By: grampi
I see nothing illegal about installing a tracking device, but I believe the boss needs to tell his employees that the device has been installed, which basically makes the device useless....


No law requires that. This has been litigated several times. Basically there's no expectation of privacy when you're using company property. They lose every time. Doesn't need to be disclosed, just common sense. Lots of places have cameras now, those don't need to be disclosed, you can usually see them when you look for them, but they do hidden cameras all the time when they suspect something. The only place you can expect privacy is the bathroom.
 
I worked for a utility contractor some years back. We were told ALL vehicles were tracked. They also threatened to fire us if the truck was parked near a strip club or massage parlor :)
 
The van belongs to your boss, and he has the right to protect himself and the company from a liability claim if the co-worker has an accident in the van. Hopefully there is a written company policy regarding the use of company vehicles. An email or other written instruction to you from your boss would protect you. You don't need a registered letter.
 
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