Privacy For Staff Members?

Europe top court ruled a Romanian man whose employer read his messages had not had his rights violated.

12:16 17 January 2016

A judge’s ruling, which was handed down on Tuesday, said an employer who read the messages of his employee did not fail to uphold the right to a private life of its citizen Bogdan Barbulescu.

 

Mr Barbulescu was fired from his work after his boss found out that he had been using Yahoo Messenger account to speak to both his fiancée and brother, despite having been asked to set up the account for work purposes only.

 

A number of groups including the European Trade Union Confederation, which represents workers across the continent, said the judge’s decision should not act as a “green light… to start snooping” on staff. 

 

Institute of Directors director general Simon Walker said: "Employees should not be subject to Stasi-style surveillance at work.

 

"We would strongly urge businesses not to read an employee's personal messages, apart from in the most exceptional circumstances."

 

Meanwhile, Brother Watch, said: "None of us should ever assume that what we do online during work hours or when using devices owned by our employer, such as computers, tablets or mobile phones, is private - but, equally, no employee should be in fear of being monitored by their boss."