Question

Compare at least two examples of business Internet/email use policies. Discuss the legal and ethical issues of an employer being able to monitor the computer use/emails of employees. What is your opinion

Answer 1

Here are sample business internet / email use policy which we are implementing in our office:

1. Use of email for official business transactions only. Employees are not allowed to use their personal email for business transactions. This is to prevent employees for having a copy of client's information in their emails for security purposes.

2. No browsing of gambling and hate sites at any times.

These two examples are very much common in any organization that uses internet and email. Although the purpose of these two policies are to facilitate the proper use of internet for employees, the reason for these are very much different. The use of email for official business transaction only is for security purposes of the company's right way of storing information. These data are under the privacy and ownership of the company. If in the near future, employees concern or doing the transaction might resign and they leave a copy of these information in their emails, they can use it for other purposes. Worst, they can use if for identity theft and other malicious activities. As for the browsing of gambling and hate sites, these are prohibited for ethical reasons. Companies doesn't support campaigns and deeds that are opposed to goodness and moral values.

My opinion regarding the use of monitoring tools by employers to their employees are normal when you are a part of an organization. Of course, this should come with proper use of the privileges by the authorities specifically, the IT admin. Whatever information they come across or whatever issues they would find out about an employee, they should not disclose it to others. They should also follow the rules and above all employees, must campaign for the ethical use of computing resources.