Many employees are unaware that their computers can be monitored without their knowledge. If they have a computer, it's the employer's window into their workspace. Employers should take steps to notify employees that monitoring is taking place.
2. Permitting an expectation of electronic privacy. Remember to advise your employees that there is no expectation of privacy on their company computers. "With businesses losing billions to computer crime and employees wasting considerable time on their computers looking at sports updates, the latest fashion trends, and even less appropriate websites, business are cracking down by monitoring their employees. The efforts are to ultimately reduce scams, identity theft, computer crimes, fraud, sexual abuse, piracy, and threats. As a result, many businesses have resorted to online monitoring of their workplace computers" (Texas Business Today, Fourth Quarter 2012).
While the Electronic Communication Privacy Act (1986) comes close to creating a starting point for a legal foundation of what can and cannot be done, legal and ethical debates on electronic monitoring and surveillance in the workplace continue.
*There may be additional rights for employees in California given specific statutes of that state.
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