How Private Are Personal Emails Sent Via Employer Computers?

Reprinted with permission from FindLaw.com

In this day and age, practically everyone communicates electronically often and for a multitude of reasons. This of course, is true in the workplace. While employees communicate by email for work-related reasons, it is not uncommon for them also to send emails relating to personal matters.

Employers frequently put in place and have employees execute employee email privacy policies. These policies provide that emails sent and received by employees on computer equipment provided by employers are not private and are subject to proper employer review.

But does that always hold true? Not necessarily, at least according to the New Jersey Supreme Court based upon the facts of one particular recent case.