U.S. lawsuit says employee was fired after refusing webcam monitoring

A lawsuit in New Jersey, United States, says Glennis Von Sander-Timinski was fired on September 8 after refusing to accept Sentinel AI from Sutherland Healthcare Solutions. The system would use her laptop’s webcam to take a photo every three minutes during an eight-hour shift—about 160 images a day—and facial recognition to confirm that she was in front of the computer. According to the complaint, she requested less frequent captures because of privacy and health concerns, and her doctor said the monitoring was worsening anxiety symptoms. The company allegedly offered her the alternatives of accepting the surveillance, returning to in-person work or leaving the job. Her lawyers say the company failed to provide a reasonable accommodation required under New Jersey law; the case is ongoing and does not establish that the company violated the law. Tecnoblog also notes that corporate tools already monitor location, productivity, communications and activity on work devices.