Privacy in the Workplace - e-mail Does your business provide you with an e-mail address and an Internet access point from work? Do you use the e-mail and Internet in your job? Companies, large and small, are finding that e-mail can substantially increase employee productivity. Internet (and Intranet) access is becoming more and more common as employers learn how to leverage access into shorter turn-around times for inventory orders and better customer services. But, if you are an employer and do not have an e-mail or Internet policy as yet, then you are leaving yourself open for potential problems. In just the last year, I have heard of a half-dozen "horror stories" about employee abuse of e-mail and Internet access. These are not the isolated cases either. I believe that any employer who gives his employee's access is inviting trouble if there is no policy in place. And, on the other side of the computer monitor, if you are an employee and you think that your e-mail communications are private, I say that you had better think again. Time and again, the courts have upheld the employer's right to review e-mail sent during work hours by employees using company computers. Courts have also upheld the employer's right to see what is on the computer that you use at work. The link below will take you to a sample e-mail policy for you to review.Of course, before you adopt any policy as important as this you should consult your attorney. The law changes and in it may change rapidly. Be up to date and correct. Related link
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