Computers (including those with access to the Internet) are common at the workplace. Often, employees use their employer’s computers and Internet access for personal reasons during the workday, which may result in decreased employee productivity, increased security risks to the employer’s computer network, and the potential for legal liability if such use results in workplace harassment.
As a result, employers often take proactive steps to prevent such risks by promulgating written computer and Internet use policies that seek to prevent improper use of the employer’s electronic systems, including email. These policies should specify, among other provisions, the permissible (and impermissible) uses of the Internet and e-mail at the workplace, state that the employees’ use of the employer’s Internet access and e-mail system is neither confidential nor private, and indicate that the employer may monitor such use by employees.
