Is an employer allowed to check all incoming and outgoing emails? Isn't this lack of trust and a control issue? If he suspects one person of misusing emails and/or not doing his or her work properly shouldn't "only" that person be spyed on?
Believe me it's not creating a great work atmoshpere
2007-02-07 00:55:34 · 14 answers · asked by natdufour4030 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Wow ! Your employer must really have low confidence in his employees.(And also in his own self-esteem) In my books, this infringes on privacy issues. I don't think anybody should be spyed on. If this bothers you, then you should delete any emails that you think might "upset" him. I think that if you bring up this issue to him, it will make the working atmosphere even worse.
Good Luck.
2007-02-07 01:14:55 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 5⤋
It may not be creating a great work atmostphere. However, what you are talking about is covered under what the law calls "a reasonable expectation of privacy."
When you are at work, being paid to be there, using a work computer, and work email, you do not have a "reasonable expectation of privacy." Unfortunately the courts usually find in that situation that the employee does not have a "reasonable expectation of privacy." Oftentimes, even if you are accessing the internet or a web based email from a work computer, the employer may (not sure on this one) have access to that web based email message as well.
At work, the only place you really have a reasonable expectation of privacy is in the bathroom (seriously). Your best bet is to not conduct personal business using company property or on company time. Most employers don't go overboard with this for fear of ruining employee morale. However...there's always one employer or employee who ruins it for everyone. Good luck.
2007-02-07 01:09:14 · answer #2 · answered by OfficerJL 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
E-mails being sent and received on a company-provided network/computer equipment are considered the property of the company, and your employer can check them at will. You have NO "reasonable expectation of privacy" when using company e-mail systems.
Oh, and here's something that most people don't know: just because you delete an e-mail from your computer doesn't mean it's gone. It lives on and is located in the memory of the main server that routed it to your computer in the first place, and is very easily located.
Bottom line is this:
You're screwed.
2007-02-07 02:04:57 · answer #3 · answered by Team Chief 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are allowed to check all incoming and outgoing emails. They have paid for the email system you are using and have every right to know what you are doing on that system. Its no different than walking the assembly line and checking your work. If you have nothing to hide, then don't worry. This is pretty much standard practice now, so get used to it.
2007-02-07 01:00:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not only is it the employer's right, it is the employer's responsibility. Your employer can be held accountable for anything you do in the scope of your employment. If you send threatening or harassing e-mails during work, your employer may, in certain circumstances, be held liable. If you download files illegally during work, your employer can be held liable. If you send racial, sexual, or religious bias material during work your employer can be held liable for allowing a hostile workplace to exist.
Whether it is a good idea has no bearing on whether it is illegal or not. Many employers also monitor phone calls. Shouldn't you be working and not sending personal e-mails? If your friends send you jokes at work tell them to stop and have them sent to a private account such as Yahoo!
2007-02-07 01:03:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
While your on the clock he can watch you do everything but go to the bathroom, and even then he can watch you come and go. It's his computer and his responsibility to make sure everything you do on it is work related. If your not doing anything wrong why worry. You must be, then why should he trust you? He has a right th expect you to work while your on the clock. My boss has cameras on every corner and watches EVERYTHING we do and tapes it. If it causes bad feelings at work, then I guess you guys have had too much freedom in the past. Don't forget your at work and it's up to you to be happy, it's not your boss' job. Bad vibes in the office are created by negative attitudes
2007-02-07 01:05:28 · answer #6 · answered by Baw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is my understanding that the employers have this right to monitor all incoming and outgoing emails. You are using their service and it should only be used for business means. Anything you do there can be construed as you are speaking for the company. There is nothing you can do about it.
2007-02-07 00:59:03 · answer #7 · answered by Dally 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If the e-mail address is created through a company owned domain, then yes he can even have it set up to do that.
Some companies go as far as to monitor every key stroke!
Depending on what state you are in, they may have to provide you with documented notification of this practice.
2007-02-07 01:01:47 · answer #8 · answered by and,or,nand,nor 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Emails that come onto your employers network are "owned" by the employer. So is any information, personal or otherwise, that resides on a piece of hardware owned by your employer.
2007-02-07 00:58:20 · answer #9 · answered by astralpen 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
If your using their equipment and software etc. then they can do as they please. Would you like to be paying some-one a salary whos abusing your trust, equipment and time that your paying for...? Tell who-ever is doing it to cease immediately. If you sort this problem out yourselves then you will gain the respect of your employer. Its that simple.
2007-02-07 01:06:35 · answer #10 · answered by Merovingian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An employer has the right to ALL emails. The emails are sent/received with their software. And FYI, most employers regularly screen/scan emails. Welcome to the 21st century.
This has been debated, and is done.
2007-02-07 00:59:16 · answer #11 · answered by Enchanted 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋