Employers' ability to spy on employees' electronic communications

[Shaker]

Yesterday some may have seen a European Court of Human Rights ruling that an employer was entitled to look at the e-mails of an employee made in company time:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35301148

Despite the ruling, employers are not being urged not to peek into the e-mails and other personal messages of their workers:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35314038

[Owlswing]

Yesterday some may have seen a European Court of Human Rights ruling that an employer was entitled to look at the e-mails of an employee made in company time:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35301148

Despite the ruling, employers are not being urged not to peek into the e-mails and other personal messages of their workers:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35314038

I think the ruling only applies to e-mails from the employer's e-mail address. An e-mail sent during working hours on an employee's personal e-mail is still exempt from scrutiny, but the employee can be questioned as to the reason for sending personal e-mails during working hours and may be required to show the contents to back-up their explanation.

[jeremyp]

I think the ruling only applies to e-mails from the employer's e-mail address. An e-mail sent during working hours on an employee's personal e-mail is still exempt from scrutiny, but the employee can be questioned as to the reason for sending personal e-mails during working hours and may be required to show the contents to back-up their explanation.

I am not a lawyer but I would have thought that anything you do on company owned kit is fair game.

[Owlswing]

I am not a lawyer but I would have thought that anything you do on company owned kit is fair game.

That was part of the Court's ruling - that it had to be both company kit AND the company's e-mail address. At least that is the way I read the text on the net.

I might have misinterpreted it but that seemed to be what was being said.

[floo]

Yesterday some may have seen a European Court of Human Rights ruling that an employer was entitled to look at the e-mails of an employee made in company time:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35301148

Despite the ruling, employers are not being urged not to peek into the e-mails and other personal messages of their workers:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35314038

If you are working you shouldn't be sending private e-mails or posting on forums!

[Rhiannon]

If you are working you shouldn't be sending private e-mails or posting on forums!

So long as you are getting your job done I don't see the problem.

[Owlswing]

So long as you are getting your job done I don't see the problem.

I had this argument with my ex when she wanted me to do something during working hours and I refused becase it was during working hours.

She said that my empoyer "didn't OWN me!"

In a way, yes they do! By paying me a salary (however pathetic it might be) they are buying my time five days a week from 9 to 5 with an hour off for lunch.

It has also been the case, several times, that a personal use of the company computer (not mine I am glad to say) for an internet search for something or other has resulted in the infection of the company system with a virus of one sort or another. It is also the case these days that most employment contracts specifically forbid use of company computers for personal business for this very reason.

With the increasing sophistication of mobile 'phones who needs to use the company computer any longer for personal business anyway?

[floo]

So long as you are getting your job done I don't see the problem.

Well I do, if I was an employer I would expect my staff to be working during the hours I was paying them to work for me, NOT doing their own thing. In fact I would have that written into their contract of employment, and sack them if they didn't adhere to it.

[Bubbles]

It depends on the job IMO

Some like my present one are very strict and I was once asked by a retired businessman to make calls to various people to raise money for a club that raises money for charity.

Sometimes people don't get it, you would be sacked.

It doesn't matter if it's for a good cause, it's work time.

Funnily enough the retired businessman (self employed ) who I had to convince once was the most awkward he just couldn't see it.

The only company I've worked for who allowed playing on the internet between calls was AOL.

But they used to look at it as work experience and encouraged you to find and explore.

At 11.30 PM it could well be quiet enough.

If you brought your own laptop with dongle, security guard is another one, especially in the early hours.

[Udayana]

Well I do, if I was an employer I would expect my staff to be working during the hours I was paying them to work for me, NOT doing their own thing. In fact I would have that written into their contract of employment, and sack them if they didn't adhere to it.

I expect you'd just end up with no employees .. and no business.

[jeremyp]

I expect you'd just end up with no employees .. and no business.

In what way is what she is saying unreasonable? If I am paying you for your time, I expect you to be working for me.

[Udayana]

Don't know about the theory however, in practice, most stable relationships require a fair degree of give and take.

[Rhiannon]

I get various shared e-mails that are circulated to make arrangements among parents at the school. Plenty of them come from work addresses and quite a few state the sender is a director, head of division or partner. I agree with Udayana; there has up be give and take and if bosses can deal with private correspondence on a coffee break or over lunch then it's not a good look not to extend the same privilege to employees.