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Even if you're not up for a workplace coupe, there are things you can do to
protect yourself:
- To pass a drug test: While no method is guaranteed, it appears the best way
to pass a urine test is to drink a gallon of water immediately prior to the
test. This is supposed to work especially well in conjunction with a
diuretic such as coffee, cranberry juice, or herbal tea. Taking vitamin B
and eating red meat around test time will apparently help mask the fact
that you've diluted your urine.
- To keep your e-mail and phone conversations private: The best thing you can
do is wait until you get out of the office to discuss personal matters. If
you need to talk about an issue while you're at work, take a break and go
outside the office or, at the very least, talk on a conference room phone.
- To find out what your boss monitors: Ask. Often employers don't post notice
that they're reading e-mail, filming the workplace, or listening in on
phone conversations. But it's hard, and possibly legally sticky, to deny a
direct question about privacy policies. It also doesn't hurt to get to know
the systems manager in your office -- he or she probably knows as much as your
boss about the type of monitoring taking place.
- To learn more about privacy issues: Check with agencies like the ACLU,
which monitors workplace issues very closely and offers a number of
publications and reports on the subject.
CONTACT:
ACLU's Campaign for
Fairness in the Workplace
166 Wall Street
Princeton, NJ, 08540
1-800-775-ACLU.
- To take action: Write your elected officials urging them to introduce or
support privacy legislation. You can request sample letters and writing
tips from the ACLU by writing KearneyCLU@aol.com. Privacy invasions also
make great stories for the media -- don't hesitate to call a reporter about
your situation.
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