How Ethical is Monitoring Employees Email

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How Ethical is Monitoring Employees Email?

• Jessica Tait and Jennifer Lee
• INCD-240-01
• Assignment 5

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Ethical Issues

• Reading employees emails
• Privacy
• Monitoring websites

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Employers Perspective

• Not working while being paid
• Non-work related activities
• Gambling
• Chain emails
• Shopping
• Online banking

4
Employers Perspective (contd)

• Company owned equipment
• Employers responsibility
• Slows network
• Clogs memory
• Exposure to viruses

5
Employees Perspective

• Respect privacy
• Urgent personal matters
• Work is completed
• Intruding personal life

6
Employees Perspective (contd)

• No harm
• Privacy policy
• Taking a break
• Low morale

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Present Laws

• Fourth Amendment
• Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986
• Individual state laws

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Case Law Legislation-Example 1

• Smith vs. Pillsbury
• Interception of e-mails
• Privacy
• Threats

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Case Law Legislation-Example 2

• Nissan vs. Bourke
• Sexually explicit e-mails
• Bad performance
• Expectation of privacy

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Case Law Legislation-Example 3

• Shoars vs. Epson
• Rights of higher management
• Appropriate consequences

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Monitoring Not Ethical

• Unfair to employees
• Bad atmosphere
• Privacy/ respect