GPS Tracking

An Ongoing Legal Gray Area

In an economy where one’s job is one of the most valuable assets you can possess, many employees are developing a fear that taking leave for personal reasons may be seen by their employers as a sign of disloyalty and may constitute grounds for probation or even termination of employment.  Physician Dr Louis J. Nitsos (Louis Nitsos) notes that when there is a disconnect in communication between employer and employee regarding reasons for time off and the length of intended leave, the potential for unwarranted termination or hostility in the workplace upon the employee’s return is greatly amplified.  With all of the current controversy surrounding law enforcement’s use of GPS tracking systems to track suspects without a warrant and whether or not this is a violation of the Fourth Amendment, authors and medical experts such as Dr. Nitsos have recently begun to wonder aloud whether an employer may take the same course of action as law enforcement and use a GPS tracking device to track an employee who is suspected of taking unfair advantage of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

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Only an industry expert can fully understand the complicated science and engineering behind a Global Positioning System tracking product.

Yet consumers are being bombarded with a host of new GPS tracking products and applications. GPS tracking technology has exploded in a very short span of time. Several years ago, there were a handful of competitors in the market. Now there are perhaps hundreds of GPS tracking companies.

As they are becoming more affordable and user-friendly, high-tech GPS gadgets are winning favor with everyday consumers. It’s as important as ever for a potential buyer to make an informed decision. Cost and features are important, but so are the people standing behind the product.

Once the potential buyer has done some basic research, he or she will learn that GPS tracking products fall into two basic categories. The difference is the way the GPS tracking systems collect and display location data. Passive systems store the data in internal memory for download and review at a later time. Active systems, also known as “real-time” GPS tracking devices, give location readings almost immediately as they occur, and the user views the data from a remote computer. (more…)