Community | December 25, 2009 | 4 comments

Walmart Sued for Secret Bathroom Surveillance

source: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/walmart-sued-secret-bathroom-surveillance/story?id=9418710

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A Pennsylvania Walmart Supercenter videotaped employees and customers in a unisex bathroom, several former and current Walmart employees alleged in a lawsuit filed this week.

Seven former and current employees from the Tire and Lube department at the Walmart in Easton, Pa., filed a lawsuit in county court against the Arkansas-based corporation and four local managers Dec. 21.

Several employees discovered an "off-the-shelf" video camera in a store bathroom March 31, 2008, according to the court filing. The unisex bathroom, which also served as a changing room, was used by employees and customers. Customers and employees were not notifed of the surveillance, according to the court filing.

"I am incredulous that anyone would think that it's appropriate conduct for any reason to photograph people in a changing room and bathroom," said Erv McLain, the plaintiffs' attorney.

Walmart said two workers were responsible for the camera.

"Two associates were terminated for placing a camera in an associate dressing room bathroom," Walmart spokesman Greg Rossiter said. "When store management learned of the camera, it was immediately removed."

The company declined further comment.

According to the court filing, the camera was installed by Walmart's loss-prevention unit.

The camera was used to monitor employees for possible theft and it is unclear how long the surveillance took place, McLain said. None of the plaintiffs, however, were accused of stealing from the store.

A store manager acknowledged the existence of the surveillance camera only after employees produced a photo of the camera, McLain said.

"The filming of anyone, including employees, is not something that is unheard of in the industry," McLain said. "But to do it in a changing room and bathroom is totally unprecedented and it could border on criminal activity."

The retailer's "Security and Privacy" policy states that at "some stores and clubs [Walmart] may record your presence on security monitors for safety and security purposes," according to court documents.

(more @ link)
  1. groups:
    Community,   Orwellian Nightmare,   The Retail Sector
  2. tags:
    Invasion of Privacy,  Walmart Sucks
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4 comments // Walmart Sued for Secret Bathroom Surveillance

  • cupcakewithsprinklez
  • kitteneater
  • bethopea
    • 0
      bethopea  

    • Recently over here in costa rica we have had some huge chain supermarkets popping up in our small town. Well, it seems as though Wallmart is masquerading with other names such as Pali and Mega Super.

      After calling their corporate # to get the store hours, none other that Wallmart answered the phone? Wallmart? I asked like the teller if it was the same wallmart as in the states, but she said NO, it is a different wallmart...okay?

      The next day I was standing in the check out line and right next to the register I spotted a cash tally memo pad with the quintessential blue WALLMART logo.

      Man, do they really try and cover up a lot of their doing. I think that if the people of the town realized that they were shopping at Wallmart that there would be a boycott.

      I remember hearing something a few years back about how a Wallmart was trying to open in a rural town in Mexico and how they had a lot of opposition (don't know if it was ever successfully opened?)...but now they do not bother with keeping their name, because their name is tainted, and they have simply become deceving.

    • 2 years ago
  • ryan8566
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