The Tattling Cell Phone

If you’re leaving work early, you might not want to take that employer-issued cell phone home with you. That’s a lesson learned the hard way by one New York City school employee who may be dismissed from his job.

Some of the evidence used against John Halpin was gathered from the GPS-enabled cell phone issued to him by the school system in 2005, which allowed officials to track his movements and place him at his residence on Long Island, when he was still clocked in at work on several occasions. And, while the phone does confirm he showed up to work early on occasion, the school district still isn’t exactly impressed.

The entire case does not rest on the cell phone alone, but it’s something to keep in mind when you accept your employer’s electronic privacy policy along with the latest gadget.