Company wants to search private vehicles

[Corsa Turbos]

Hi,
A company that a friend works for wants to start searching everyone's private vehicles for stock - they plan to do this every day before each member of staff leave. We don't think the comapny own the land, we believe they rent it as the car park is used by other companies on the same site. Does anyone know if they can legally do this?
Cheers!

[Adam T]

Corsa Turbos said:

Hi,
A company that a friend works for wants to start searching everyone's private vehicles for stock - they plan to do this every day before each member of staff leave. We don't think the comapny own the land, we believe they rent it as the car park is used by other companies on the same site. Does anyone know if they can legally do this?
Cheers!

Im not sure even if they owned the land it would make much difference, but i wouldn't expect any kind of decent company would be allowed to do this - unless it was a prison or it was secretive work like government etc ?

I guess that objects belonging to the firm are going missing?

[GreenV8S]

Corsa Turbos said:

Does anyone know if they can legally do this?

They can if you agree to it, and they can make your agreement a condition of the use of the company car park. I assume they have a problem with theft of company property, in which case it's a reasonable way to deal with it imo.

[Corsa Turbos]

It's only Homebase... so nothing secretive etc!!
They assume stuff is going missing on the day shift, my friend works twilight shift and isn't aware of anything going missing on that shift.
I have looked on the internet for him for any legal stuff that says they aren't allowed etc... but no joy. He doesn't have anything to hide but isn't happy with the attitude that has been taken regarding the searches. They are also searching day staff's actual bodies (pat down etc) and bags!

[Boosted LS1]

Well he could invoice them for his wasted time or ask the search to take place just before he finishes the shift end. In other words leave 5 minutes early. Why should it be in his free time frame? That should level things a bit.

[Adam T]

Homebase - and there I was assuming it was some two bit cash and carry elctrical wholesale operation, running a firm like that or the size etc suggests I would hope that they have checked there legal status regards searches etc.

[Holst]

I used to work at an electrical retailers warehouse and we were searched on the way out, including metal detectors. And we were told that cars could be searched at random. Although I eas never searched.

I think its a bit much to search your car every day, as its an invasion of your privacy.

When I worked at transco I once had my car saerched for bombs (anti terrorism) which was quite funny.

[shadowninja]

If you were the employer, what reasonable action would you take if stock is going missing?

Holst said:

When I worked at transco I once had my car saerched for bombs (anti terrorism) which was quite funny.

Because you had it strapped to your chest?

Edited by shadowninja on Monday 5th May 18:34

[dr matt uk]

He should check his contract of employment.

If it is a condition of employment that they reservce the right to search employees and their lockers / cars etc during working hours or before / end of a shift then yes they can. If it is not written in, I'd politely say thanks, but no thanks.

[Brown and Boris]

dr matt uk said:

He should check his contract of employment.

If it is a condition of employment that they reservce the right to search employees and their lockers / cars etc during working hours or before / end of a shift then yes they can. If it is not written in, I'd politely say thanks, but no thanks.

Even then usually it says they have the right to refuse a search but that at the seceond refusal it becomes a discipline offence. There is alos an issue around 'Just Cause' in respect of the Human Rights Act: Right to a Private Life. If they have stock going missing that might be reason to ask for a search.

[Jasper Gilder]

You'd be amazed at what's been found in searches of staff cars at the end of the shift! Can't work out why anyone would risk their livelihood for the sake of a few quid

[Boosted LS1]

But shouldn't any search be on company time and not yours?

[shadowninja]

Boosted LS1 said:

But shouldn't any search be on company time and not yours?

I suppose it depends on whether you have those extra lines that state you may be required to work extra hours as appropriate for no pay (can't remember the exact wording).