An employer believes that an employee is engaged in misuse of the company computer. Another employer in the same building believes that a well respected employee is secretly sharing comments regarding the company to another rival company. An office two blocks down is having trouble keeping their business staffed because the employees feel their privacy rights are not protected while on the job. Many employers feel that what their employees do while at work is their business because it is their job to protect their assets.
The word privacy is a very simple word. Privacy is defined as being personal or confidential. Most all employers value their employees and only watch them when they become suspicious. A well written and communicated company policy is the first step to ensure your company has not created an expectation of privacy among employees. (Lenckus, 2000) Most company handbooks won't say if the employees will be watched to protect the assets of the company. However, some handbooks do state that the privacy of the company will be protected and that the employees will assist in the protection of the company's liability. Most handbooks also state that if an employee fails to comply with this statement, they will be subject to termination up to prosecution.
These types of privacy rights are enforced to protect your company from any adverse actions of a disgruntled employee. Some adverse actions could include using a company computer for personal pleasure or personal business. Another adverse action could be an employee accessing unauthorized material and other important information regarding the company. There are several actions that an employee may initiate to break p ...