Company mail being opened by Administrator?

Question

The Administrator of the company I work for has recently started opening mail which is specifically addressed to my name. Is this legal? Can they do that? So far I have found two specific pieces of mail on my desk, from two different suppliers so it's obviously business mail, opened and laying on my desk. Can someone advise me on how I should proceed? It's a family owned business, the Administrator is the President's wife and my boss gives me no support whatsoever when I go to him with a problem. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

As a family owned business owner myself, I can see how it could be frustrating for you.

The Administrator of the company (whether the wife of the owner or not) has the right to open any package or letter sent to your company that appears business related. You stated that the mail was from two different suppliers, thus, business related.

Now, if your company allowed you to 'personally' receive mail at your office and it was addressed to you and 'not' the company and she opened it, that would be a different story (wife or not!).

Answer 2

In larger companies email is monitored to prevent the spreading of proprietary information and to prevent employees from taking care of personal business during working hours. They may have other rationales as well. Here's part of the answer of a work rights site:

"Question Presented

"Does the common law or the ECPA protect employees who are subject to electronic monitoring in the workplace?

"Brief Answer

"Generally no. Most courts and commentators examine common law protection in terms of "intrusion on seclusion," one of the four generally recognized invasion of privacy torts. However, those states that recognize this tort do not extend its protection to employees in the workplace beyond the most egregious of invasions. The ECPA permits disclosure of the contents of stored electronic communications for business purposes and as interpreted by the courts does not prohibit employers from accessing and divulging the contents of employee e-mail. What protection the ECPA does offer is more to be found in the area of telephone, rather than e-mail, monitoring. "

Answer 3

Not really sure. I was told a few years ago even though it comes addressed to you as long as the contents regards the company they are allowed to open it. this is a very good question I had the same problems.

Answer 4

In any professional situation whether private or publicly owned businesses, the company always has a right and owns correspondences whether it's written, email or voice mails.

Answer 5

It's company mail and she's the President's wife. No fighting that.
She has the right.

Also, she may be just letter-opening all the mail to be helpful.

Don't sweat it.