UK - The GMB union has accused Marks & Spencer of systematically bugging private conversations of its workers...
According to Personnel Today's sister publication Computer Weekly, the union will claim that M&S installed a secret, illegal "special line" in the workers' meeting room that allowed management to overhear their conversations.
Maria Ludkin, a GMB lawyer, alleged the information came from an employee at the technology company Eurosis, which supplied the microphones and other equipment used to bug the room. (more)
Murray Associates has been warning its corporate clients about the relationship between the down economy and increased snooping and dirty tricks. This is a good real-life example.
If M&S indeed made this mistake, they deserve what they will get. However, if this is a union 'set-up' ("The news comes as the trade union is preparing to take the retailer to tribunal over the sacking of whistleblower Tony Goode."), they deserve what they will get... if, the truth wins out.
Today, this is unnecessarily time-consuming and expensive ...and a PR nightmare for both sides.
All this might have been avoided if independent eavesdropping detection audits were part of the company's security program. Audits a very cost-effective alternative to litigation.
