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Unreasonable Searches When Going to Work?
Chico Science asks: "I'm a scientist, not a lawyer, so I'm a little beleaguered by the fact that since 2001-Sep-11, I have been forced to submit to searches on my campus as I enter buildings. I work at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, and have been shouldering the burden of increasingly draconian security measures. Most recently, they've instituted a policy of 100% bag/package searches on entering buildings. Initially it didn't bother me, but after having my bag searched on my way to my car (which was also thoroughly inspected) after work, I decided I'm not comfortable subjecting myself to searches of my personal belongings at every turn. I want to know if I have a right to refuse searches? And why should it be considered acceptable for me to relinquish my Fourth Ammendment rights so I can go work on in my lab?" In this climate of increasing security consciousness, how far can vigilance go before it becomes an invasion of our rights?
I damn sure want you sorry ass searched. Traitor.
Well, I think that it's clear that you are hiding something. Why would you even consider the question unless you are doing something wrong? Now you ask us to rationalize your avoidance of your own guilt. I never knowingly commit any crimes. I never possess any illegal contraband. I'm an upstanding patriot, and I'm happy to let anyone who cares see that I've got nothing to hide. Why don't reveal you real agenda and tell us what you are hiding in you bag at work. Or, better yet, why don't you just walk down to the nearest police station and turn yourself in.
Hmmm - I hate getting searched when I go to jail. How dare they search my bags when I get on a plane. Get a brain. If you go onto private property they can search all they want. It doesn't matter if you work there. Jackass. You don't get to decide how you enter work just because they gave you a job. I suppose you think you can also walk around your office and yell or do whatever and express your first amendment rights? I am sure a liberal like you does not believe anyone can exercise their second amendment right to carry a gun to work? If you don't like it, quit.
PS - IAAL, and as my rant suggests your case has no merit but I guarantee there is a lawyer somewhere who will take it, especially in this economy.
Heck, many non-government jobs have them as a standard of employment. My current employer does have such a policy, and I work for a ISP, working with PTP and Frame circuits.
Previous jobs that have had similiar policies where I have worked. Actually come to think of it EVERY place I have worked has had such a policy. Look at your employee manual.
Staples
Super Saver (Albertson's Warehouse Store)
GenCo (recoupment warehouse)
Lamson & Sessions (poly fabrication)
University of California, Davis Campus
Blue Shield of California
Unocal (Part of Union 76 Petroleum companies)
If it is illegal, a lot of employers seem to do it. Now I have not had the policy exercised, but the employee manual did include it. It was something along the lines of:
"In order to protect our valuable resources of the company, we reserve the right to search all personal belongings on company premises, including bags, purses, pockets, desks, cars in the company parking lot, breakrooms, and any other place related to your place of work."
I am not quoting exactly, but you get the idea. Now, working for the Federal Government, in a time during which we are at WAR, and in a facility that potentially could be handling potential biological weapons, I would say, "Get the heck over it." Other Federal employees are getting more personal searches. You know the Postal workers with the swabs up their noses? You are complaining about a daily search of your bag going in and out of a facility handling biologicals? Get some perspective here.
Btw, did you bother to RTFM? In this case your employee manual before asking slashdot.
For those with puritan sensibilities that is Read The Forgotten Manual.
Federal Employees have long enjoyed many "perks" that those of us in the private sector have not. For example it is next to impossible to fire a civil servant.
Oh, of course IANAL
believe me, i'm glad you don't live here either, you fucking tard.
We are under siege and tensions are high. Put up with the inconveniences.
Save the fight for real rights abuses, not just inconveniences.
-- @rjamestaylor on Ello
But don't you see, this isn't solving anything. Sure, you may get a few laughs out of it, but what have you accomplished besided maybe offending some security guards sense of decency/morality? Not a thing. The searches will still be performed and instead of making a constructive effort to change things you're making light of something that could be a serious problem. I think a better approach would be to get others on your side, and then approach the bosses with how you, the employees, see this matter. Don't just fuck around with big dildos, do that on your own time in your bedroom.
Most protests, riots, and general citizen insurrections do not involve tanks, planes, or bombs. They usually involves people fighting against the armed police officers, in which case five hundred people with shotguns will easily overwhelm one hundred police officers. So while a gun won't help if the government if they choose to go all the way into using tanks, planes, and bombs, a situation that rarely arises because it risks other large governments taking "humanitarian action" against them, it WILL help in 99% of citizens-versus-local-government altercations.
Personally, I think anyone that doesn't come to a large, potentially violent protest without a gas mask and a gun somewhere on their person is dumb. I would at least take those two "just in case".