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WEB SITE:https://www.privacyrights.org/workplace-privacy-and-employee-monitoring

ID: 349174 • Letter: W

Question

WEB SITE:https://www.privacyrights.org/workplace-privacy-and-employee-monitoring

Instructions: Electronic monitoring in the workplace has become one of today's most challenging issues for employers and employees alike. Employers have a legitimate interest in protecting against liability for employees' online activities; they also have a responsibility to oversee their workers to make sure they are productive. At the same time, employees seek to have their privacy rights respected.

Is there privacy in the workplace? The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse discusses this question in terms of employer monitoring of telephones, computers, and other office privacy issues. Go to the web site above and answer the following questions:

1) Is it legal for an employer to listen to employee phone calls at work? Explain your answer. (5 pts.)

2) Is office e-mail and voice mail private? Explain your answer. (5 pts.)

3) What laws, if any, deal with privacy in the workplace? (5 pts.)

Explanation / Answer

1. Yes, it is legal for an employer to listen to employee phone calls at work but under certain conditions which are:

2. Office emails and voice mails are not private because the email or voice mail setup is owned and used by the company. So, the company reserves the right to monitor any email or mail sent through their system, within the company or outside the company. The company may review the contents of the email or the voice mail. This policy is also applicable for internet based mailing systems. Employees will have to assume that their emails or voice mails are not private, of they are using a company owned and managed system.

3. The laws which deal with privacy at workplace are :