Workplace Privacy Between Coworkers

By Barrie Gross

The issue of workplace privacy can be a moving target for employers. When considered from the perspective of employee liability,

the target is even more elusive. There are cases, statutes, and codes that address some of an employer's responsibilities to maintain the privacy of personal information about employees. But there are lines of privacy to be respected between employees, but this is not talked about as often nor are these lines well drawn.

Employees probably know that their employers are watching what they do with company-owned electronic communication resources (such as e-mail). They also probably know there are corporate policies addressing privacy and confidentiality issues. But many employees may not think about the fact that other employees have access to their private information and whether there are laws to protect that information against misuse by their coworkers.