Electronic Surveillance of Employees Paper

1572 Words7 Pages
Explain where an employee can reasonably expect to have privacy in the workplace. Employees should understand that while at their workplace, they have very few rights when it comes to privacy. Employers own the phones their employees talk on and the computers they work on, so many employers feel they have the right to monitor how these tools are being used. Courts typically hold that a written policy clearly defining that particulars areas of their job could be monitored, then employees should not reasonable expect to have privacy in these areas (www.mcfay.com). Typically these areas include communications devices such as emails, phone calls, voicemails, internet usage, and interoffice instant messaging. While there are few places employees can reasonably expect privacy, it is important employees know what areas are. It is reasonable for employees to expect privacy in restrooms, mothering and wellness rooms, and other similar areas within an organization. It should also be noted that employers must continually enforce the rules set in their written privacy policies. Should an organization not enforce their policy regularly, the courts may rule in favor of the employee having reasonable expectations to privacy should a case arise (www.mcfay.com). In the office workplace there are typically two types of workspaces, an open area, in which there are several desks and where conversations can be overhead, or an enclosed office, in which—when the door is closed—conversations cannot be heard and where one would expect virtually total privacy. Explain whether it makes a difference if an employee is in an open area or in an enclosed office. Privacy has long been a concern for employees and employers alike. While there is debate concerning privacy in open workspaces versus closed workspaces, I believe there are pros and cons to both. Open

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