Can an employer add a new policy wherein an employeewill have to have their belongings and clothes searched beforethey walk out of the door?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Can an employer add a new policy wherein an employeewill have to have their belongings and clothes searched beforethey walk out of the door?

I was handed a slip of paper after I came back from my lunch break. It stated that my purse and any pockets that I have will have to be searched by the receptionist before we go to lunch or take out the trash or leave for the day. Is this legal?

Asked on February 21, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, South Carolina

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

Yes, it is legal. A company can require searches of employees as a condition of employment; employees who do not wish to allow this have the option of quitting/resigning. The exception would be if the employee is being discriminated against or harassed due to a protected category or characteristic, such as his or her race, religion, age over 40, disability, or sex; if that is the case, the search may constitute illegal employment discrimination, and the employee may have grounds for legal action.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption