Remote worker claims her employer spied on her through laptop webcam

A woman has claimed in a series of viral TikToks that her employer was spying on her through her laptop webcam after she was reprimanded for not being at her desk.

Texas-based remote worker Michae Jay said she was locked out of her computer after the camera caught her away from her desk and cooking food in the kitchen.

In her first video, Michae showed her laptop screen, which had the message: "NOT AT DESK Action Applies. Please get approval from Supervisor to retry." (Watch above.)

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Next to the message was a blurry photo of Michae standing in her kitchen cooking, taken from the laptop webcam.

"These people locked my computer. They locked my computer because I was in the kitchen cooking. Bro, this is why they don't want us working from home," Michae narrated the clip.

Michae's initial video attracted a flood of comments from followers who slammed the company for its blatant micromanagement and for invading her privacy.

Some also advised Michae to always cover up her webcam, to which she replied in a separate video that she wasn't allowed to do so.

"If it was up to me, I wouldn't even have the camera plugged in," she explained. "The webcam is to take pictures of you throughout the day, if you're not at your desk, it locks your computer."

"If there's somebody in the background, it locks your computer, and if you have a mobile device, it locks your computer."

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Michae said she got up from her desk and forgot to lock her screen, causing the webcam to automatically take a photo.

It took her 45 minutes to get back into her device because it happens to multiple employees each day, she claims.

In Texas, according to the Texas Bar, generally, employers are typically free to monitor their employees' internet and email usage

However, employees are also afforded an expectation of privacy at work. Video surveillance of this kind usually requires notice given to employees.

Many of Michae's followers were baffled by the company's strict working-from-home rules, with one even likening it to prison.

"Girl, that's jail. I don't love that for you," one concerned person wrote.

"This level of micromanagement will keep them with a high turnover rate," another added.

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Michae responded to say she was "sick" of the webcam rule and was on the lookout for another job.

In a recent update, she told followers she had been suspended from her role after management saw her TikToks.

Michae said her employers are launching an "investigation" into the videos and will let her know the outcome soon.

"I gotta hurry up and find me another job," Michae added.

"Only reason I took this job was because I really needed something at the time. And you know, I have a child so I can't be BS.-ing and stuff like that."