Importance Of Privacy On Employees

Do employees have the right to expect privacy in the workplace? The answer to this question has become a controversial topic when it comes to employers keeping an eye on their employees. In fact, the monitoring of employees has brought forth concerns among a variety of groups. From managers of businesses to employees and privacy advocates, each has its own reasons for or against employee monitoring. Employee monitoring is the act of tracking the actions of employees to ensure they are using equipment properly and being productive while on the clock. Because the use of technology is prevalent in the workplace, employee monitoring has become a common practice to prevent fraud, theft, or dishonesty. While employees feel monitoring is an invasion of privacy, employers have the right to monitor their employees so long as it is legal and ethical. In fact, employers must monitor their employees to guarantee productivity, greater organizational security, and lessen the liability employers face for employee actions.

Companies are monitoring employees to ensure productivity. Organizations are fully aware that employees are engaging in non-job related activities such as Internet surfing while on the job. In fact, of employees that have been surveyed, “60.7% said they visit websites or surf for personal use at work” (Martin & Freeman, 2003). These behaviors can be destructive for the organization. Time spent on company equipment for personal use is time spent away from company business and tend to decrease company revenue. It is the company’s responsibility to take the necessary steps to guarantee employees are working while at work (Pheifer, 2013). It is for this reason that 77.7% of all businesses are conducting some sort of su...

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... using company equipment. It is important to realize that businesses must keep their best interest as well as that of their stakeholders in mind. By monitoring their employees, an organization is conducting business under the Profit Maximization and Utilitarian Theories which “suggest that employers take the course of action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of relevant stakeholders” (Mujtaba, n.d.). Essentially, employee monitoring provides companies with the opportunity to guarantee productivity of employees, plan for an increase in organizational security, and lessen the liability employees create. In order to encourage ethical behavior of all involved and to prevent legal ramifications associated with monitoring of employees, a Code of Ethics and an Acceptable Use Policy must be signed by all employees and kept on file by the company.