A Spanish court on July 27 ordered H&M to immediately cease daily checks of employees’ bags at the end of their shifts and monthly random inspections of lockers, ruling that these practices violate employees’ privacy rights.
The court, which considered a lawsuit filed by the unions UGT and CCOO, found that H&M did not demonstrate that losses from employee theft warranted such intrusive control measures.
H&M declined to comment on the ruling. The court concluded that the company failed to quantify the exact losses attributed to employee theft and could not differentiate these from losses due to external theft, supplier fraud, or administrative errors.
Court found insufficient grounds for checks
Over the past three years, only six employees out of a workforce of approximately 4,600 were terminated for theft-related offenses, the court noted.
The court suggested that installing security arches at exits for personnel would be a less invasive alternative to achieve the same goal of preventing theft.
Checks deemed excessive and pressuring
The court characterized the monthly random checks of lockers as “preventive and intimidating,” rather than a necessary response to protect company property.
Source: The Straits Times
