From Greg Milam, Sky News Europe correspondent

The great German supermarket spy scandal is getting more incredible by the day.

It is now alleged that FOUR supermarket chains have been spying on employees with reports of tactics worthy of the old East German Stasi.

Staff have been monitored on cigarette and coffee breaks and even in the loo with secret cameras and detectives filling in observation logs and filing pages of reports.

Excerpts which have been obtained by German news magazines make bizarre reading: "Mr J appears to spend the whole day re-organizing the fruits and vegetables and is rarely seen undertaking any other activities."

Another reads: "There was an anonymous tip that Ms C allegedly doesn't take sufficient care of her 8-year-old daughter and that, whenever she has a midday shift, she pushes the child onto a friend. Regarding this matter, Ms C has a meeting today at 5 p.m. with Child Protective Services."

Lidl, the first company to be exposed, has apologised to employees and customers. It took out newspaper adverts which read: "We regret it profoundly and apologise explicitly if co-workers feel discredited and personally hurt by the described procedures."

But the company, which has 17,000 stores in 17 countries, insisted surveillance was all about detecting possible misconduct, not spying on staff.

One of the other firms said its surveillance was an anti-theft measure but admitted that contractors HAD made notes about individual workers.

The scandal is causing quite a fuss across Germany with talk of legal action and the government and unions weighing in with condemnation.

Worryingly, Germany’s data protection commissioner Peter Schaar was reported as saying: “We’re dealing with the tip of the iceberg here. Most surveillance goes on unnoticed, without our knowledge. New possibilities for surveillance tempt some people to monitor employees.”

Comments

[BP_Birmingham Apr 18, 2008 1:15:41 AM]

I think it is a good thing. When i start a new job, there are at times when staff have told me how to fiddle a company, as i like to get my hands dirty, the staff dont relise im management. Also how to do less work, longer breaks. So im all for these so called "SPY" cameras.
If you know your not doing anythink wrong whats the problem. if your out on the streets and theres a cammera so what, if they save one persons life,chatch one thief,help send to jail one person for beating your mother on penson day, spot someone grabbing a baby. wheres the problem?
The problem is you! Have you not forgotten we have a county side, where we are free to roam? free to buy locally from our farms. free to enjoy our sundays. If you did not buy buy buy on goods you do not need, then there would be less people on the high street and easyer to spot crime,also more you want nicer things more the theif wants nicer things. Half the things you are buying is cheap Chinesse rubbish, why not after you bought it, take the small item out an leave the cardboard and plastic on the shop counter? this way you tell the shopkeeper you wish the cycle of waste at the shop? THINK!!!

[Steve, Cheshire Apr 11, 2008 1:58:58 AM]

Let's hope the McCanns & Tapas 7 start singing soon...

[Khalid Apr 9, 2008 4:34:59 AM]

To be absolutely fair to both employer and employee, both parties know that rules are put in place to ensure business continuation as well as social interaction,during times when ones time has been bought out by virtue of what is known as a salary.
Theft, as we all know comes in various forms, ranging from prolonged tea breaks to phone usage as well as undue absence.
The fact that Lidl utilises spying techniques may not come as a shock, as every local council uses council tax to spy on drivers and pedestrians alike.
So, business harmony is attained if neither party takes the [Liberty X] and [Maybe] do what their core business allows!