Employee Privacy: Company Rights & Expectations

Any company or employer has the reasonable expectation that employees will work productively on paid time and when using company property. N'cest paz?

It is also reasonable for employers to restrict the use of company property to work use. This then excludes company property from personal use of any kind. Electronic devices such as computers, email and phones are absolutely included.

So when there is an investigation or termination of employment procedure, employees are required to surrender these devices and their content immediately, with no questions asked. If they do not they are obstructing a company investigation.

I have had cases in which employees were using these same three devices to run entire personal businesses - on company paid time! One employee consistently logged close to eight hours a day on their DJ enterprise. Unbelievable.

As a practical matter, in cases of involuntary termination, always remove personal electronic or real property from company devices and return it to the employee. Always have a witness present when you are doing this and DOCUMENT the procedure and property involved.

Lance