Employer reading emails without consent.

superbigal

I also suspect the OP has created this post during working hours 

Grumpy_chap

Dakta said:

having the technical means to check anything on a computer doesn't necessarily make it appropriate for an empoloyer to do so

Undervalued said:

If it is not "appropriate" for an employer to check what an employee has been doing on a work computer

In what way would it be inappropriate for an employer to read work email through the work email address on the work laptop?

How is it any different to a letter or facsimile message arriving at the office and being processed via the post-room before being distributed to the intended individuals?

happyc84

superbigal said:

I also suspect the OP has created this post during working hours 

Hi, I'm resting between jobs. The question came up because we were never made aware that management would review our workload remotely. Small company bought over by larger one, very chaotic in every way.

So no written policy, hence the question.

 

Dakta

Undervalued said:

In which case I am puzzled that you have started seven different forum threads asking employment related questions.....

If it is not "appropriate" for an employer to check what an employee has been doing on a work computer, what useful, realistic and practical remedy do you feel is open to the employee?

a) because I wanted community information, but doesn't mean I'll take it as gospel, just gethering thoughts
b) in my most recent question, it's good I didn't take it as gospel because the advice was generally find a new job, or get my head down - in this instance these answers were neither answering the query, and if they'd have been followed the outcome would be been poorer than what actually happened. 
c) every now and then you do get good advice, so it can be worth the ask - but you still have to be wary and have a good filter.

Regarding practical remedies I've already stated it - check your company acceptible use policies etc. Because, and I know these exist as I work at one - if it's not made transparent, and if its not documented, it can be a problem. For example, if a manager where I work were to make a sudden decision to read someones emails it could be a disciplinary matter (for them). Even though they may have conditions where they can - these are generally set out in the policies. So my first remedy is familiarise yourself with it.

Own_Worst_Enermy

Yes, sorry, an employer can delete what ever they like; when ever they fancy.

They actually made me want to cry on first day back after being on sick, knowing just what they deleted. 

CKhalvashi

Employer here.

There are various operational reasons why I (or someone I've asked to if pushed for time) may need to access e-mails or another documents. This includes on the day of a client meeting, to check what has been said to a client (to check contractual terms) or their customer (for issuing refunds or similar) or for general admin related to work.

If you are using a work computer largely for personal use, you shouldn't be. Limited personal use we tolerate and understand (there again are operational reasons for staff to need access to social networks etc, this works on trust) however e-mails especially shouldn't be sent from a company domain unless they're specifically work-related or other authorisation has been given. This is both to avoid the company being dragged into personal disputes and because we work across sectors that aren't that regulated but really should be and as a business acting on behalf of other businesses on many occasions we need to both be and be seen to be fully professional.

We work mainly in a hybrid capacity since Covid (and in some cases before it due to lack of office space and a specialist fit out that will cost far into 6 figures to disassemble and reassemble) and find that this works really well.

pinkshoes

happyc84 said:

superbigal said:

I also suspect the OP has created this post during working hours 

Hi, I'm resting between jobs. The question came up because we were never made aware that management would review our workload remotely. Small company bought over by larger one, very chaotic in every way.

So no written policy, hence the question.

 

I don't see why they need a written policy. They are paying you to work so if they suspect someone isn't just working then quire rightfully they should check!

Given it will be time consuming to check, they're hardly going to do it without due cause.

If you don't like the idea then go to the office and work?

My husband works for a company and had their WFH policy reduced from 3 days to 2 days due to people taking the p*ss and not working. 

goater78

Dakta said:

goater78 said:

Dakta said:

Whilst the stock answer would be 'its the company's equipment and you should expect no right to privacy when using it' it's also an interesting question.

It's also a bit of a toughie, because we live in a world now that does place ever increasing value on privacy.

The first thing I would ask is, if I was in this scenario - is this documented, is the company being transparent about it? It's not unusual you see for companies to log and even read emails. My company does it, and I know that because that's occasionally my job. We have a policy in place everyone has to sign which says this, and these do get used for a) preventing harm to the business (from people sending emails they shouldn't) b) preventing harm people may accidentally do to themselves and investigations and so forth.

It's all totally above board, but actually one thing that isn't routinely done here is email monitoring IN CASE performance is low, i.e to read someones email you must already have some mind of suspicion or requirement to investigate a specific person in a specific timeframe etc. You couldn't just read peoples emails wholesale hoping to find a slacker...

So I'd have a look into the context of the monitoring of emails, I'd have a look at any agreements or policies and ensure in the first instance that the company is being transparent and reasonable, and always assume what you write can or will be read - whilst this may not always  be the case it's a totally healthy best practice.

I would also advise, marking emails as confidential and for the marked recipient only, this is because I have been in a similar position in the past, I have found people making use of information from an email of mine that was read, and whilst the reading of it wasn't against policy, it turned out the way that information was then put to use by someone other than the clearly marked intended recipient WAS. Oh dear.

So yeah that's not quite the same thing admittedly but I'd always be mindful. 

I don’t think it’s an interesting question at all. 

Cool?

I do though.

I would be very wary of advice given on a forum, having the technical means to check anything on a computer doesn't necessarily make it appropriate for an empoloyer to do so - so in this instance I would start with your computer use policies.

Of course it is appropriate for an employer to monitor what you are using your work issued computer for. Crazy that you think this crosses some sort of ethical boundary 😃

Dakta

Who said anything about that?

https://sherborneslaw.co.uk/monitoring-employees-emails/

The main reason i wrote about checking any aup or documentation. The overly simple our equipment so our data doesnt always stand and it can sone times go the other way too in other contexts and scenarios  (your equipment my data) if you know what youre doing.

Havent raised ethics at all reason being it all depends on the policies agreed .. 

I havent even declared a stance on this yet as it still depends. If they have this covered in policy youre likely screwed. If theyre the sort of firm without any policy it could be more defensible. Its the first thing to look at. 

prowla

Who owns the laptop and is it provided for work purposes?

If people aren't doing their work then they're not being given enough work to do...