You may not be working right now, but when you do, do you think your boss will read your e-mail? How about listen to your phone calls or read your text messages? A federal court in California ruled recently that workers’ personal text messages are off-limits to a boss. But more than 75% of U.S. companies use some form of electronic monitoring, according to a report from the American Management Association. An employer may read e-mails, listen to phone calls, and monitor website visits. “The laws in place provide very limited protection for employees,” says Paul Stephens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in San Diego. Some companies will tell employees that they’re being watched, even though the law doesn’t usually require it.
What do you think?
Do employees deserve privacy at work?
Have you ever thought a boss was listening in on phone calls or reading e-mails?
Why would an employer want to spy on a worker’s e-mail or listen to his or her phone calls?
Should a company be required to tell employees that they’re reading their e-mails? Why?
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Comments: 17
I know it happens all the time and people are often so stupid they think they're not being watched. I would guess that most workers are definitely being watched.
I'm teasing.... we travel to Canada regularly and are a die hard hockey family.... so don't get mad!!!!
If they thought I was important enough to be spied on, I'd be flattered. HAHA
A busness has to have the right to protect itself, that is an important issue, so "Spying" is a valid point to have available. I will agree it is not a nice one, but that is beside the point of reality.
Businessesd can monitor your work computer, work phone, and anything like that. Where it does get sticky, is personal phones, like cell phones with cameras (and I have heard of some companies banning them from the workplace for security reasons).
This is why I keep two computers in my home office - one is my company-provided laptop, the other my personal PC. I keep my work and my personal activity as separated as possible, even to the extent of asking my family and friends not to use my work email address.