Employer demands 24/7 access to employee's location for $16/hr job: 'There is no legitimate reason for them to know where I am'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jun 26, 2026 10:00 AM EDT

Everyone is entitled to privacy, but that's easier said than done. 

The person who shared their story on the antiwork subreddit learned that the hard way. It seems like these days, everyone wants access to your location. Your apps do, your friends do, but should your workplace be able to do that? Sure, they probably want you to clock in where and when they need you to, but should they be allowed to know where you are even when you're not at work? That seems like a pretty big invasion of privacy. You are entitled to live your life without your employer constantly peering over your shoulder. They only pay you for a certain slice of your time, so you should be able to live your life outside of that without fear of consequence. It's a creepy overstep for your employer to demand access to your location at all times, especially when it isn't relevant to your job. Our modern world asks us to make so many concessions about privacy. We fork over so much of our data, or have it extracted from us in secretive ways. We don't have a lot of agency over how and when it is used. But we can draw the line where we can draw the line. We don't have to accept everything that is handed to us, especially in the workplace. If you accept everything as inevitable, then you will completely lose control over your life. 

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  • A woman stocks shelves in the grocery aisles
    via Joshua Rawson-Harris

    A model represents an employee frustrated at their retail job

  • My employer wants 24/7 location access on my personal phone for a $16/hour job.

    Yesterday my manager announced that everyone has to install a new "workforce management" app on their personal phone by Friday. We already use a website to see our schedules, but apparently this app will handle clocking in, shift changes, messages, training
    via Own_Replacement_4195
  • videos and "attendance verification." The part nobody mentioned until we started installing it is that the app asks for precise location access set to Always, not just while using the app. When I selected "only while using," it gave me an error saying my employer's policy requires continuous access. I work inside one retail location. There is no driving, delivery, field work or any legitimate reason for them to know where I am after I leave.
    via Own_Replacement_4195
  • A few of us asked the manager about it and he said the app needs to confirm we are physically near the store when clocking in. That still doesn't explain why it needs my location at 11 PM, on weekends, or while I'm on vacation. One coworker checked the permissions and noticed it also requests Bluetooth
    via Own_Replacement_4195
  • access, access to nearby devices, permission to run in the background and the ability to send data even when the app is closed. The company isn't. offering phones or paying any portion of our phone bills. We were basically told that having a compatible smartphone is now part of the job, despite that never being mentioned when any of us were hired.
    via Own_Replacement_4195
  • I refused the Always permission and my manager told me I would have to write my clock-in times on paper "until HR decides whether that's acceptable." He also warned that manual entries may be treated as attendance exceptions, which feels like a quiet threat to discipline anyone who won't consent. I'm not trying
    via Own_Replacement_4195
  • to be difficult, I just dont think earning $16 an hour gives a corporation permission to track where I sleep, shop or spend my days off. Has anyone successfully pushed back against something like this? I'm considering asking for the policy in writing and contacting my state labor department, but I'd like to know what documentation I should collect first.
    via Own_Replacement_4195

  • This employee tried to point out that what their employer was doing was wrong, but they were having trouble making their concerns heard. When they tried to let their employer know that they weren't comfortable with this policy, their job started to seem like they were in jeopardy. This is a tricky line to walk because you can't punish your employees for refusing to be taken advantage of. Unfortunately, that's what seems to happen a lot of the time. Keep reading to see what happened here and see what you think about it.

  • A woman hands money to a shop assistant in the supermarket
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    A picture representing a cashier handing money back to a customer

  • Commenters gave their ideas on how to handle this.

    sirhackenslash Just wait until you call in sick then get written up for leaving your house
    via sirhackenslash
  • HansOberlanderJr Never give your employer access to your private phone and data. If he enforces such policy, he will have to provide a company phone accordingly. Stay strong and stay the course, don't back down. You have every right to.
    via HansOberlanderJr
  • HalfBakedPuns delete the app and tell your employer that you need something issued by the company. then turn the company device off when you arent at work.
    via HalfBakedPuns
  • Nikosma Yes, I've fought something like this. My company began issuing phones. They would keep a phone at a location. everyone would log into. I don't know what HR software you are using, but most of them have time clock capabilities, but they do cost more, and they have to be installed and managed. I previously worked in IT for a large retail chain.
    via Nikosma
  • I would challenge them on this and put in a complaint with HR. Or if they press the issue, block the app and only turn on permissions for logging in, and then turn it back off again. Having a software requiring all of that level of access screams that their IT has no idea what they are doing and has set it up incorrectly because some leader is micromanaging.
    via Nikosma
  • nwostar I would very much enjoy the malicious compliance against this policy by doing the following: Either force them to provide a company phone by stating. and lying if necessary, that you don't have a personal cell phone to install the app to.
    via nwostar
  • Or get a flip phone so primitive it cannot install apps. Then leave the company phone at work when you leave for the day.
    via nwostar
  • Sharp_Resolution89 They can't make you do anything with your private property. Companies that require a phone to be used for work are required to provide said phone for the employee.
    via Sharp_Resolution89
  • tidymaze Consider contacting your state/province's Labor Department if they press the issue.
    via tidymaze
  • Puzzleheaded-Phase70 If you want to provide me with a device to carry while I'm on the clock, that's totally fine. But f no, I will not be putting any tracking programs on my personal phone.
    via Puzzleheaded-Phase70
  • indicatprincess I'm with the other folks who to say to use a wifi-only enabled device at work. I'm not putting location tracking on my personal device for any employer, especially not in retail. The entire point is to serve you ads and track where else you're shopping.
    via indicatprincess
  • Capt_Vandal This is 100% an egregious privacy violation. Talk with your state's department of labor. They will either side with you (most likely) or the employer. Send the DoL everything the app wants access to including the always on location. Also don't ever install apps from your workplace on your personal device.
    via Capt_Vandal
  • DankVapor "My phone it too old to install this app. If you need me to use this app and it is required, then the company is required to provide an appropriate cell phone to install the application or you will need to give me a monthly stipend to cover a new device."
    via DankVapor

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Tags

boss antiwork toxic-workplace job work coworkers working workplace bad bosses
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