Telephones and electronic communications


• employers should not read or listen to emails or calls which are evidently personal or private;


• email monitoring should be restricted to addresses/headings unless there is a valid and defined reason to examine content;


• monitoring of internet use should be undertaken by automated systems rather than scrutiny by managers of usage by individuals;


• restrictions on email and internet use and types of websites which should not be accessed should be made clear;


• a reasonable amount of private use of the employer’s telephone, internet and email systems should be allowed;


• employers, such as call centres, which routinely record telephone calls must provide staff with a means of making calls that are not recorded;


• workplace policies should guarantee the privacy of trade union communications within the organisation.