BALANCING EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER RIGHTS: AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF E-MAIL PRIVACY IN THE WORKPLACE

ANDR M. EVERETT
YIM-YU WONG
JOHN PAYNTER

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DOI: 10.2190/12BP-DQ2P-HC07-5XJW

Abstract

The rising prevalence of e-mail as a means of both business and personal communication is accompanied by multiple possibilities for negative effects on organizations whose employees utilize e-mail and Internet services while at work. These include not only transmission of confidential business information but also simple waste of time, decreasing employee productivity. To limit such potential abuse, employers in many countries have tended toward monitoring of employee Internet activities in the workplace. With a lack of clear guidance on appropriate mechanisms for such monitoring and surveillance, issues of personal privacy have arisen. Our article examines some of the underlying issues linking e-mail/Internet monitoring and employee privacy in the workplace from an international perspective, including examples of relevant legislation from selected countries.

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