Is it ethical for employers to check employees emails?

Answer 1

Oh course. The equipment belongs to them and they are liable for what goes on with it. It would be perfectly ethical to assure that the employees are not doing anything illegal, It would also be ethical to assure that the employees are only doing job related tasks while they are being paid (but not after work, lunch break).

I honestly can't think of an incident in which it would not be ethical.

Answer 2

Good question. It's certainly legal because you are using company property. But ethical...

I guess if someone is using my property, I believe I have the right to check and see if they are using it appropriately. And most companies make employees sign a "Code of Ethics" stating that the employee will use email for business purposes only. So, they figure they can check your email to see if you are meeting the ethical obligation you agreed to.

Answer 3

I don't know about ethics but they usually have something in the employment contract that if it is a company e-mail the IT guys have a right to go through sent and received emails. I would check your employee handbook.

Answer 4

That's a good question. I learned in ethics class under my managerial academic studies that employees who check their personal email accounts at work and who leave the information up on their work-issued computers are opening the door for anyone in the office to read it because now it is not violating your privacy. This is because you are not supposed to be checking personal email during work hours and you've made your personal information public.

I thought that there is a fine line because that raises the question, "What if I was checking personal email in the privacy of my office and I left the work space to attend a meeting, restroom, etc. and I closed my door." It would still be an invasion of my privacy.

Answer 5

I personally don't consider it ethical.....but legally, your employer owns all email or correspondence on your company email address. They can read or use it any way they please. Many large companies have employees that their job is to read email of other employees all day. So be careful what you put in emails and use your yahoo address to send personal stuff.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, employers have every right to monitor what they're employees do. I wouldn't send any personal correspondence through my work email address. Get a yahoo! email account instead...

Answer 7

If you're using the company's email address, then yes. It belongs to them.

Answer 8

yes, it's their computer and your on company time so anything that you do while you are at work is under the scrutiny of the employer.

Answer 9

if you are using there email or there computer or there connection they should have every right

Answer 10

Its not ethical but it is also not illegal