Employee Searches

[Woodstock]

My friend's company has recently been taken over by another company. She told me that, now, every day, before they leave the premises, all employees have to be subjected to a bag, car or clothes search by their employer. Is this legal?

[aelmpvw]

yes

[Deskdiary]

It would surprise me if it was an office, but if it's a workplace where items are sold it wouldn't surprise me.

When I was a student I worked evenings in a Safeway supermarket, and all staff were subject to random searches.

[roopower]

They used to do the same thing at Woolworths when my daughter worked there.

[bookbinder]

https://www.gov.uk/monitoring-work-workers-rights

[wolf63]

My mum worked in a whisky bottling place (Dewars Whisky) and they were sometimes searched on the way home. It was random. I don't know if anything was ever found.

[david small]

Yes. Tea leaves abound. Often from the most innocuous sources.

[Peter Pedant]

well - I think it may not be ( legal )
she in a company which has been taken over and the normal things is that her old rights are preserved
she doesnt therefore have a new employer
and I dont think they can start it without employee agreement
(but I am not an expert)
she should at least ring ACAS or contact her union
or join one
and ask if this is covered by TUPE rights

(I mean there is a lot we dont know - is she in her first two years (they can just fire her) - did she sign a new contract saying they could, the usual blah blah)

[woofgang]

PP the other thing is that it might already have been in her contract but the old firm didn't bother

[Peter Pedant]

hi
yeah agreed

TUPE was sortta conceived to prevent the idea of a take over and the "new" employer saying - good idea boys and girls - contractually you work much much harder for less and less money ....

[Woodstock]

Thank you all for your responses, they've all bee useful. I'll pass the info on to my friend.

[webbo3]

I use to work in a Tesco distribution centre and wheb you finished your shift you would push a button near the exit, red light come on, bag search, green light no bag search.