Situation

A caller asked "What is the policy on a manager unlocking one of their employees desks after hours in search of something? Is this an invasion of privacy? What rights do/does the employee have?"

The Telcos Response

The caller was informed that a manager would need to have a legitimate business reason for accessing an employees desk. This needs to be a bona fide reason, not just that he/she is angry at a person. For example, if a manager had reason to believe an employee had a gun, stolen merchandise, or drugs hidden in their desk, or had left on vacation and had critical work material in the desk, these would be considered legitimate reasons for opening and employee's desk.

Your Task:

1. Determine who in your organization is the ethics point of contact. This could be at the local level within your particular office or at the corporate level. Contact that individual and ask what the company policy is in regards to employee privacy issues. Do not just copy the words from the employee Code of Conduct handbook.

2. Write a page or two explaining what your particular company's policy is towards employee privacy and the decide if you agree with this policy (and state why) or disagree with it (state why and how you might recommend changes to the current policy).Situation

A caller asked "What is the policy on a manager unlocking one of their employees desks after hours in search of something? Is this an invasion of privacy? What rights do/does the employee have?"

The Telcos Response

The caller was informed that a manager would need to have a legitimate business reason for accessing an employees desk. This needs to be a bona fide reason, not just that he/she is angry at a person. For example, if a manager had reason to believe an employee had a gun, stolen merchandise, or drugs hidden in their desk, or had left on vacation and had critical work material in the desk, these would be considered legitimate reasons for opening and employee's desk.

Your Task:

1. Determine who in your organization is the ethics point of contact. This could be at the local level within your particular office or at the corporate level. Contact that individual and ask what the company policy is in regards to employee privacy issues. Do not just copy the words from the employee Code of Conduct handbook.

2. Write a page or two explaining what your particular company's policy is towards employee privacy and the decide if you agree with this policy (and state why) or disagree with it (state why and how you might recommend changes to the current policy).