When can you legally access employees' telephone and e-mail messages? We outline your rights in the new Lawful Business Practice Regulations.

  • The Regulations are only relevant to employers who wish to monitor calls through employees’ e-mail or telephone systems
  • It is illegal to deliberately intercept communications on a public telecom system and on a private telecom system unless a specific exclusion applies
  • Employers can legally intercept communications for quality control, fraud prevention and to discourage non-business use of the system
  • Employers must make reasonable efforts to inform all system users of possible interceptions prior to application
  • Employers are advised to seek professional advice prior to any interception

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor

Postscript

John Davies FCIS is head of business law at the ACCA.