Controlling boss asks all employees to download location-tracking app 'Life360,' employees are baffled: 'We are not his children'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Sep 15, 2024 3:00 PM EDT

Life360 is a controversial app. For those of you who don't know, it's software you can download to your phone that has advanced device-tracking capabilities. It allows those who you permit to see where you are 24/7, see where you have been with location history, and dispatch emergency services if needed. It's become popular with parents who use it to keep tabs on their children. But who should be allowed to have access to such detailed information? Does an employer have the right?

That issue came up at a law firm where the head lawyer suggested all employees download it so they could be held accountable for their whereabouts during the work day. But is that an invasion of privacy? Life360 doesn't stop when the workday is over, so does this enable them to know what you're up to even when not at work? Read on for the story and see what commenters had to say.

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  • 01
    FORET D
    via Maël BALLAND
  • 02
    My boss makes all employees download life360 So I work as a lawyer in a litigation law firm. My boss/a sr. Advocate raised hue and cry about the fact that lawyers say that they're busy in court and take breaks after their court matter before reporting back to the firm.
    via u/musingsandcuriosity
  • 03
    He's like the solution to this would be location tracking (EUREKA!) So he suggested life360, an app he uses for his children as well. Call me a genz employee but I was ready to point blank state that "I'm not okay with this" right to his face. But I soon noticed that all other employees were classic asslickers who responded, "this is so interesting", etc etc and actually got themselves logged on the app.
    via u/musingsandcuriosity
  • 04
    Tbh, i did download the app but then did not give adequate permissions. While I was constantly being nagged by my boss and a bitchy colleague to allow permissions, I stated that I'll figure it out and got busy with work.
    via u/musingsandcuriosity
  • 05
    He literally almost bought the premium version and even started to look into apple find my phone and samsung tracking etc.
    via u/musingsandcuriosity
  • 06
    While I still spoke about data breaches that such tracking softwares are infamous for he is still adamant about device tracking.
    via u/musingsandcuriosity
  • 07
    I find this SO SO SO wrong. They should rather focus on timely payment of wages
    via u/musingsandcuriosity
  • 08
    He reiterated that if the location goes off there will be monetary fines and what not. I am so annoyed today. How do bosses not realise what boundaries are?!
    via u/musingsandcuriosity
  • 09
    • Grandpaw99 4h ago Repeat after me. I will not install any work related software on my personal cell phone.
    via u/Grandpaw99
  • 10
    . Enigma... 3h ago • Edited 29m ago I'm a millennial and this would 100% not be ok with me either. He does it with his children....WE are not his children!
    via u/EnigmaIndus7
  • 11
    Expert_Swan_7904 • 3h ago if theyre not paying your cellphone bill they cant make you download if they wanna buy a cheap phone to track you then just leave it at your desk
    via u/Expert_Swan_7904
  • 12
    Exciting Evidence8815 3h ago • Yeah I would not install that on my personal phone because work asked / directed me to. If my location during work hours is that business critical then issue me a work phone, or if that's too expensive issue everyone apple air tags they can carry during busines hours and leave at the office during non-business hours.
    via u/ExcitingEvidence8815
  • 13
    whereismymind86 • 3h ago This is an insane request to comply with
    via u/whereismymind86
  • 14
    laddervictim • 3h ago If they want you to install ANYTHING you put it in the phone that they provided for you and you leave it in your locker when you're done for the day
    via u/laddervictim
  • 15
    SnooBunnies7461 3h ago Is this a company owned cellphone? Personally I won't allow any resource the company will use on my personal cell phone. Let him know that he can give you an air tag that you will keep at work and take with you when traveling during the word day only. All on his dime.
    via u/SnooBunnies7461
  • 16
    JCMcFancypants • 3h ago Our company's IT made some kind of change a few weeks back and broke Skype on all the company computers. Asslickers all downloaded it to their phones. I got out of all meetings for a couple days. Boss started mentioning that I should download it like the rest of the "team". I said sure, as soon as you start paying the phone bill.
    via u/JCMcFancypants
  • 17
    verucka-salt • 3h ago My staff does not have my personal cell number. They cannot contact me after hours if I'm not on call. If I am on call, I carry a work cell. There is nothing & no patient who I can manage better than the doctor on call. If there is a widespread issue like Covid, I know it & respond as needed. I'd never agree to this 360 bs. Horrible.
    via u/verucka-salt
  • 18
    • Big_Ad_1890 3h ago My man, I get paid very well for my job. Not lawyer wages but very well. I don't even put work email on my phone. If they want me to have a phone with work apps on it, they should buy me a phone and put work apps on it. Otherwise, they can shampoo my a :k.
    via u/Big_Ad_1890
  • 19
    zomgitsduke • 2h ago "I'd prefer you not have access to which church I attend, medical locations I visit, and political events I participate in"
    via u/zomgitsduke
  • 20
    PDQBachWasGreat 3h ago Maybe ask your boss if he thinks there's any problem with the government or the opposing litigants knowing your (and by proxy, your client's) location? Because if he can see where you are, so can law enforcement and bad actors.
    via u/PDQBachWasGreat
  • 21
    Flamboyatron • 2h ago Dude, I'm in the military (an organization which needs to know locations of people in case of recalls and which is also really controlling) and even we don't do this. This is insane.
    via u/Flamboyatron

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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