Employers usually do not have policies on using the telephone at work. Why, then, do employers need to develop policies on monitoring the use of email, the Internet, social media, and other forms of technology?

There are many sides to the issue of workplace privacy. The employee side holds that employees have the right to privacy, that employers should respect and trust their employees, and that any issues regarding performance or conduct can be observed by the manager. The employer side holds that the workplace is a public environment; that the organization is responsible for the actions of its employees and for their interactions with clients, visitors, and other employees; and that it has the right to safeguard its business.