19 Jun From the HR Support Center: Can We Monitor Employee Email?
The short answer is yes, you can monitor employee email. As a general rule, employees should not have an expectation of privacy when using company computers or email accounts. That said, the law is not perfectly cut and dry, so you should have both a legitimate business reason for doing so and a policy that puts employees on notice that you do – or could – review their email.
If you decide to monitor employee email, we recommend that you review your handbook policies, especially any that address company equipment or email usage. You should include a policy that says something along the lines of, “All Company-supplied technology, including computer systems and Company-related work records, belong to the Company and not the employee. The Company routinely monitors usage patterns for its email and internet communications. Although encouraged to explore the resources available on the Internet, employees should use discretion in the sites that are accessed.”
If you monitor company email, you should also be consistent in how you do so. For example, if you’re routinely reviewing emails to ensure that employees aren’t conducting personal business on company time, we would recommend that you do so for all employees or everyone in a specific department.
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Legal Disclaimer: Payroll Partners and/or the HR Support Center are not engaged in the practice of law. The content in this email should not be construed as legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions concerning your situation or the information you have obtained, you should consult with a licensed attorney. Payroll Partners and/or the HR Support Center cannot be held legally accountable for actions related to this article.