All eyes on you

So, now we know your employer can watch you while you work. But what about the limits of allowing someone to watch you when you are out of work - like at a department store? I'm reminded of that episode of the Jeffersons (a million years ago) when Florence gets a job in a department store. All of the mirrors in the dressing rooms are actually two-way glass with security guards on the other side of the glass who watch people try things on and make sure nothing gets shoplifted. Florence gets assigned to watch the dressing rooms and is hopelessly conflicted when shes a woman try to stuff some article in her purse. Anyhow.....

While it may make for funny in a 70s kind of way tv, you need not fear that you are being observed naked in the dressing room under fluorescent light. Florida law does not allow for a store to place you under surveillance in the dressing room or any other place where you might have a "reasonable expectation of privacy." The Florida Legislature even passed a statute on this - §877.26 Fla. Stat.

And, just so you know, not only is it illegal to be watched, but it constitutes a crime to violate the statute. Nice.

Now, there are some limitations on this prohibition. Your right to privacy extends only so far as the dressing room really. Remember, you only have a right to be free from being watched in those areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. If you step out of the dressing room to show your sister how great some dress looks or just how bad the outfit she picked out for you is, you will be in a place where it's perfectly ok to have cameras and be observed by store employees. Beware.

You could, of course, just do yourself the favor and stay in the dressing room.