BOSTON—The scandal at the former John Hancock headquarters continues to escalate as a Suffolk Superior Court judge has allowed more women to join a lawsuit concerning a hidden camera discovered in a women's gym locker room. This shocking incident, which reportedly occurred six years ago, raises serious questions about privacy and corporate responsibility.

A hidden camera, connected to a live feed, was found on June 6, 2019, in the ceiling of the locker room at 601 Congress St. At the time, the building was empty as John Hancock had relocated its operations to a new site in Back Bay. The court ruling comes after seven additional women, spied on by this camera, finally gained permission to add their names to the ongoing lawsuit.

Judge David Deakin noted that while the additional plaintiffs should have come forward sooner, the delay did not unfairly harm John Hancock. Notably, the company allegedly waited 49 days before notifying police about the voyeuristic incident. This lack of urgency has fueled claims that John Hancock mishandled the investigation, leading the women to distrust the company’s intentions.

Court documents reveal that the same model of camera found in the locker room was purchased using company funds, raising further concerns about corporate oversight. Although John Hancock maintains that the camera was not recording, the plaintiffs are seeking damages to cover the extensive costs of a comprehensive digital search of their images.

No one has yet been charged in connection with this disturbing case, leaving many questions unanswered about the extent of the alleged surveillance and the responsibilities of corporations to protect their employees' privacy rights. The unfolding drama highlights significant flaws in John Hancock's security protocols and raises alarms about the potential for such violations in workplace facilities.