What do you know about Employee Privacy Rights at the workplace.?

Question

I'm doing a paper and wanting to inquiry some information about this subject from real people that are experiencing it first hand.

Answer 1

According to most authorities, employees do not have privacy rights in the workplace in regards to computer usage, paid work time, or company functions.
There are certain _personal_ privacy rights, i.e., restroom use, but when you are using the company's digital/information/computer system, the company owns the equipment, pays the license fees for all the software, and maintains the network and internet connections. These things are open for inspection at any time.

Answer 2

Everyone hasa reasonable expectation to privacy, but it exists on many levels depending on where you are and what you are doing.

Obviously in your home, you right to privacy is very high. When you are at McDonald's that expectation is much lower as you willingly entered a public place.

At work, you right to privacy is very low, but not non-existent. As stated, computer use, email, etc. you have no real expectation to privacy as the company is paying for everything to allow your computer usage. Most companies will have you sign some form that state "any internet useage and email can and will be monitored by the company". Basically, don't visit sites or send emails you wouldn't want you boss to know about.

Also, while in the workplace being monitored by video or sound is not a violation of your privacy. You are on company time, and on the company's property, therefore you have a low expectation of privacy. Restrooms are one exception, but not totally. Employers may have cameras in restrooms under strict guidelines. Basically, they can face any part of the restroom as long as the stalls, urinals, etc. are not visible. That is why many places have the sinks on the opposite wall as the stalls.

As stated, your reasonable expectation to privacy is highest when at home. It lowers on varying degrees depending on where you go, and what you are doing.