Workers\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0online\u00a0gift retailer\u00a0in Illinois,\u00a0owned by Bed Bath & Beyond\u00a0Inc.,\u00a0have reached a significant settlement\u00a0to end biometric privacy\u00a0claims\u00a0that\u00a0their employer used illegalfingerprint scanning practices.\u00a0A federal judge is set to approve\u00a0the\u00a0$4.5 million deal\u00a0after both parties\u00a0reached this settlement after an 11-hour mediation this past October. More than 200,000 employees of\u00a0Personalizationmall.com LLC\u00a0stand to benefit from this payout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lawsuit specifically alleged that the finger scanning time clock system used by their employer to collect their clock in and out times did not first obtain their consent to the data and collection use. States like Illinois have strict biometric privacy laws which require explicit consent to data collection and use.Employees claim they were never presented with nor did they sign a release consenting to the platform capturing, collecting, storing or using their biometric information as required by BIPA. Each class member is expected to receive between $569 and $952. If approved, this settlement will provide significant and guaranteed monetary relief to affected employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n