Big IT Brother (Part 1)

Michael R. Wood is a Business Process Improvement & IT Strategist Independent Consultant. He is creator of the business process-improvement methodology called HELIX and founder of The Natural Intelligence Group, a strategy, process improvement and technology consulting company. He is also a CPA, has served as an Adjunct Professor in Pepperdine's Management MBA program, an Associate Professor at California Lutheran University, and on the boards of numerous professional organizations. Mr. Wood is a sought after presenter of HELIX workshops and seminars in both the U.S. and Europe.

  Governance  

In a post-9/11 and corporate scandal world where security and corporate governance issues are at the regulatory forefront, it could be just a matter of time until all organizations will have no choice but to monitor employee e-mail and Internet activity. But until then, the question facing a growing number of organizations is whether or not they should monitor employee e-mail and Internet activities.

The courts have upheld the right of an employer to monitor the content of employee e-mail, phone conversations and Internet activity while at work. However, the debate continues as the proliferation of employee monitoring software products grow.

Parties on both sides of the monitoring argument agree that organizations need clear and definitive policies on electronic surveillance and that these policies should be frequently and effectively communicated to employees. They also agree that employees should undergo formal training on policies, proper usage and conduct.

This article will explore both sides of the employee monitoring debate and offer some guidelines for developing an e-mail and Internet usage policy. First let's explore common arguments for and against employee monitoring.

Arguments For Monitoring

Proponents for the monitoring of employee e-mail and Internet activity maintain that employers must take proactive steps …

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