Legal Question in Employment Law in Florida

Employer Invasion of Privacy?

Can your employer send people to your apartment if the apartment manager contacted them to look at ''bad housekeeping''? I feel this was purely an attempt by the apt mngr to get me fired. Can see no other reason what so ever. I work for a fairly large organization and I have since noticed other employees (non supervisors) looking at me strangely or smirking. These also come from people I don't even know in the workplace. On a related note: This

''apartment building'' recently, all of a sudden became a

motel. When I saw the advertising two and a half years ago, it offered furnished apartments: first, last, security. I have my own phone line, pay electric, etc. There was no written lease, however I recently learned after a certain time there has to be one provided. Is that correct? With no prior notification was recently instructed to make the rent check out to ''Name'' Motel rather than ''Name'' Apartments like I have been doing for the past two and a half years. I had no intention at all of living in a ''hotel'' or ''motel'' for this period of time! Living in a motel affords you no rights. There was no change of ownership. Can your employer go behind your back and sendworkers to just walk into your home while YOU are at work?


Asked on 2/21/04, 7:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jeffrey Sheldon

Re: Employer Invasion of Privacy?

Unless there is something work-related about your apartment and you gave permission, the employer has no business at all being there, inquiring about it, sending people, etc. (The employer can be outside and can even investigate legitimate issues such as workers' comp. claims, but that does not seem to be the situation here.) Nor does the landlord have any right to let anyone else into your apartment (if that is what happened).

This sounds extremely unusual and you may indeed have an invasion of privacy claim and perhaps even defamation if unflattering words have been spread about you at the workplace.

The difficulty is that you would have to sue to vindicate these rights, it would be difficult to prove these claims, and it would be time consuming and costly.

Perhaps you can discuss the matter with someone you trust at work (an executive or HR manager?). If you want to discuss the matter with an attorney, please call for a free consultation. (I can not advise you on the apartment/motel issue. I do not handle real estate and tenant matters. But if you now have a lease, check to see what it says about your rights.)

Jeff Sheldon

Jeffrey L. Sheldon, Esquire

The Sheldon Law Firm

17804 St. Lucia Isle Drive

Tampa, FL 33647

813.986.7580

(f) 813.986.7489

(Admitted in Fl., MD, D.C., and Pa.)

[email protected]

http://www.SheldonLawFirm.com

Disclaimer: This posting does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. It is not confidential, nor is it privileged, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please consult with an attorney for advice specific to the facts of your case.

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Answered on 2/21/04, 8:53 pm


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