Employee Privacy Report

Employee Privacy Report

University of Phoenix

Bus Com/285

October 14, 2010

Employee Privacy Report

Employee privacy in the workplace is complex. There are many rules and regulations when it comes to e-mail and internet use in the workplace. In this paper, privacy policies, e-mail use, internet use, and laws regarding employee e-mail and internet use will be addressed.   Implementation of policies by employers, as well as assumptions that employees make regarding their privacy at work will also be explained.

      Technology makes it possible for today’s employers to monitor and regulate every aspect of employees’ jobs.   They are able to monitor telephone conversations, computer, e-mail, and internet use.   The monitoring is virtually unregulated, therefore unless company policy specifically states otherwise, an employer may watch, listen, and read most of your workplace communication (Clearinghouse/UCAN, 2010). Yet the concept of privacy is so broad and so elusive, it’s difficult even to define. Privacy rights come up in situations involving drug testing, blogs, searches of electronic mail and files, hair and dress codes, arrest records, credit reports and other off-duty conduct. Although most people think they may never need to know them, all employees must know what their privacy rights are in today's world. With today's technology, violation of privacy is a very thinly-defined line. An employee who does not know their privacy rights is more likely to have them violated without even knowing it. There are many forms of privacy - some examples of protected information are medical, communication, criminal history, and what we do in our personal lives.

To avoid any unwanted web surfing, companies put in systems that will prevent employees to access the internet during work hours and my workplace is no different. Many companies are turning to internal servers for the email and web surfing of employees on the company’s time. According to the Privacy Rights...