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Privacy Laws

In: Business and Management

Submitted By sexieshay
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Privacy Laws and Policies Debate CheckPoint
After examining the privacy laws as well as policies within the workplace, I find that companies should insist on such laws and policies in a working environment. Many reasons for my decision exist, the first is companies have reasons for monitoring the computer systems as well as phone lines. After all the software employees operate is the employer's property, and by monitoring the computer systems will assist in preventing the staff. Some employees have been known to use the Internet for personal reasons instead of business purposes; therefore, employees will pay more attention to the Internet than completing the tasks assigned. The Electronic Privacy Communication Act (ECPA) is a law that can protect the employees' privacy; however, one can continue to discover exceptions to the ECPA. One exception is employer's can monitor his or her employees activities so that he or she can prevent unauthorized use.
Services like e-mail, telephone, and Internet are other exceptions owned as well as offered by the company; therefore, the company has the right to monitor any employee. The third exception is the consent, in which, "When a party consents to the interception of a communication," (E-Monitoring in the Workplace: Privacy, Legislation, and Surveillance Software, 2006). Organizations desire to make certain workers are using company time proficiently. Companies do not pay employees to deal with personal matters on the clock; however, employees receive paychecks for completing assignments. Sometimes employees believe they deserve privacy for his or her personal matters; however, employees do not realize they must take care of private personal business before or after work.

References
E-Monitoring in the Workplace: PRIVACY, LEGISLATION, AND SURVEILLANCE SOFTWARE. (2006). Communications of the ACM, 49(8), 73-77.

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