In this NY1 news segment, reporter Elizabeth Gerst discusses how employers increasingly monitor employee email and internet use. Citing an American Management Association estimate, she notes that 45% of companies actively track communications, and 70% have disciplined staff for personal use of telecom equipment. Legal experts explain that, unlike government surveillance which requires a warrant, employers have the right to monitor because the data belongs to the company. Companies often justify monitoring to prevent sexual harassment and protect productivity. The segment highlights high‑profile cases where old emails caused damage, such as Monica Lewinsky and Bill Gates, and cites recent firings at Xerox (40 employees) and The New York Times (23 employees) for inappropriate web activity or pornographic emails. It also points out that 85% of firms that monitor inform employees, urging workers to verify corporate policies to avoid inadvertent violations.
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With help from a little software, your boss can see everything you do in cyberspace. In fact, the American Management Association estimates 45% of companies actively monitor employee email and web use.
People come into the workplace assuming that their constitutional rights of privacy are— come with them into the workplace. It's not true. A government would need a warrant to look over your computer files or check your email. Your boss doesn't, because in law, those files don't belong to you, they belong to the company.
And not only do they have the legal right to do so, many companies feel it's their obligation.
They're really trying to just prevent a lot of these sexual harassment cases, which are a result of inappropriate emails that are being sent or websites that are based on pornography.
And firings stemming from such offenses are mounting. In October, 40 Xerox employees were booted for surfing sites related to shopping or sex. The New York Times recently axed 23 workers for sending pornography via email. Inappropriate memos or web cruising is just one issue. Decreased productivity is another.
People who are spending inordinate amounts of time doing personal email are not doing their job. 70% of companies have disciplined employees for misuse or personal use of telecommunications equipment.
You should also remember that old emails die hard.
Even when you hit delete and they hit delete, it's still being tracked and saved and archived on all these various machines along the way.
Monica Lewinsky and Bill Gates were both burned by old emails. Their damaging notes were subpoenaed and later paraded before the public. Experts insist most companies don't abuse their monitoring rights, but if you're careless, that mouse could turn into a mousetrap.
You don't want to be found looking for other jobs, surfing the net from your office. You don't want to put extended personal material on an email to a friend.
85% of firms that use monitoring say they make sure their workers are aware of the practice. But if you're uncertain of corporate policy, be sure to ask your employer. Elizabeth Gerst, New York One.
