I found these articles in regards to surveillance in the workplace on NY Times and ACLU websites.
Article 1: Vast F.D.A. Effort Tracked E-Mails of Its Scientists
Article 2: Your Boss Shouldn’t Read Your Email
The primary issue at hand is whether or not an employer has the right to monitor work emails and even go as far as to monitor personal communications in the workplace and even at the employees' residence. The investigation was started with the notion that agency information was being leaked by five scientists, who claim that "faulty review procedures at the agency had led to the approval of medical imaging devices for mammograms and colonoscopies that exposed patients to dangerous levels of radiation"(NY Times).
In regards to the rights of whistleblowers, two scienstists were let go and a third was suspended when the FDA found emails that revealed the scientists were drafting a complaint that would have been submitted to the Office of Special Counsel. Only one of the five scientists targeted still works for the agency.
During the FDA's investigation, should they have had the right to collect more than 80,000 computer captures images?
The two scientists that were fired and the third that was suspended, are they not protected by the anti-retaliation provisions? As whistleblowers, what are the rights of scientists?
What other concepts from our textbook can we apply to these articles?
