...Internet Mario Robles Com/285 July 13, 2011 Patricia Madrill Internet In my current workplace e-mails are non-existing, e-mails between our company members are avoided and communication is done through cell phone or radio call. Therefore, policies about Internet use are not available and not required in this stage of the company. However, if our company where to provide employees with Internet privileges I can see why they would want to implement Internet policies. With those policies the company enforcing them should be aware that employees would not be completely satisfied with about their privacy and think that their personal business is no longer personal. * What are the e-mail use, Internet use, and privacy policies at your job? * In my current workplace policies about Internet usage are not stringent, reason being everyone in the company has their own laptop. My company, after you have been with them for a year will give you a $1,000 gift card. This gift card is not just free money, it comes with two restrictions. The first restriction is that you should use 75% of this money toward the purchase of a new lap top, the second restriction is that the rest of the money has to be spent on a Verizon wireless card and a two-year subscription fee with a Verizon wireless vendor. Once you have purchase this items if there is any money left you may use...
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...Addressing e-mail, Internet use, and privacy policies What are the e-mail, Internet use and privacy policies at your job? The e-mail use at my job is that it can’t be used for personal use, but only company business. Internet use at my job is definitely for business use only. At my job I can’t get on it to shop or pay bills, but only for company business. The privacy policy is your own personal information that you allow your company to have, but you still have right’s. The company can not disclose any of your information. The privacy policy can also help protect you against internet fraud, make sure your computer is safe, and also protect you and your personal information. What are the current laws regulating employee e-mails and internet privacy? One law is the at-will law. This law gives an employer the right to relieve an employee of duty with any explanation what so ever. The employer does not need a reason, you can show up for work one day, and they can let you go without any explanation. Another law is when a company does not allow a union in the company. A union can prevent a employee from being relieved of duty without any just cause. With a union there has to be a valid reason for letting an employee go. Employees have constitutional rights to privacy; it cannot be invaded according to the law. Most companies have the right to retrieve your e-mail and internet use. Why do companies implement e-mail and internet use policies? Most companies implement e-mail and internet...
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...changed. Employers are playing constant “catch up” with new technologies that are utilized on a broad scale long before policies are created to manage their impacts. Privacy issues often arise in connection with employer efforts to locate, hire and evaluate the most qualified and reliable employees. Improvements in technology, such as the rapid rise of the use of electronic mail and the increasing use of surveillance cameras, often force otherwise reluctant employers to readdress the balance between employees' privacy concerns and perceived business needs. In fact, nearly 67% of all companies currently use some type of surveillance in the workplace. According to a recent poll, “. . . over 66% percent of those surveyed had used the Internet from work in the past 24 hours.” (M.Lee Smith Publishers, Hospitality Workforce Trends, January 2000) In addition, when issues in his or her personal life impact an employee’s work, the employer must make judgments as to the appropriate level of involvement. Lastly, as traffic on the “information superhighway” continues to explode a number of substantive questions about the use and abuse of these information networks arises. What are the ramifications for employees’ right to privacy in the workplace? Does an employer have the right to search an employee’s computer files or review the employee’s electronic mail (“E-mail”)? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using surveillance at the workplace? As you will read in detail...
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...Employee Privacy Report Introduction Using e-mail, the Internet, and privacy policies at an organization is partially what an employee does daily. Properly using the Internet, e-mail and privacy policies is the responsibility of each staff member. Although staff used e-mails to communicate with employees as well as research the Internet for information related to the job, one would expect for certain information to remain private; however, it does not occur like this all the time. Businesses have in place policies where they have the right to observed employees activities during job. While it is important for employees to be mindful of their companies’ policies, it is more important to know that employers have the responsibility to ensure that their employees have been properly inform and made aware of these policies. When an employer provide an employee with a copy of the companies handbooks, the handbook should address such issues as electronic communication and Internet use while on company computers. Additionally, most companies policies states, whether “internet use and communication … are considered part of the company’s business” and “such communication are not to be considered private or personal to any individual employee.” However, some company’s policy also provides, that “occasional personal use is permitted” (Gavejian). What are the e-mail use, Internet use, and privacy policies at your job? Law allows employing organizations to monitor business...
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...Employee Privacy Report Rhyan Vee BIS R Alizade The use of the Internet and e-mail within the workplace domains has attained a great deal of significance. This is because employees are being monitored within the workplace realms, in order to check the employees work manifestations and gauge what kind of work they are carrying on, on the Internet. This is important because it divulges the employees thinking mechanisms. I will discuss a few pertinent aspects related with the technological usage within my workplace. E-mail use, Internet use, and Privacy Policies Technological issues at my workplace are handled in a fair and balanced manner. This is why the network architecture has gained importance within my workplace realms. A fact is that the use of technology is within the prescribed rules and standards. The use of e-mail and the Internet is restricted but not so much so that employees are forbidden. They can use it with moderation and hence do their jobs at the same time. The e-mails are exchanged among the company employees on an intranet e-mail system. Similarly blogs and internal websites are made use of that discuss the different aspects of the work on a regular basis. “The workplace limits the use of bandwidth because if more of this is used, serious issues could arise for the entire network” (Zollers, 2003). The use of the Internet is carried out in such a manner that nearly all the network users are shared properly...
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...Week Five – Employee Privacy Act Report Jessica Jackson COM/285 Timothy Smith June 20, 2012 Employee Privacy Report In this report I will be discussing the current privacy policies at Abacus Technology Corporation. I will be going over the policies that Abacus Technology has in place regarding e-mail use and internet use. As well as reviewing the current laws that the State of Maryland has regarding employee e-mail and internet privacy. I will also be discussing why companies implement e-mail and internet use policies. Lastly, I will be covering what assumptions employees might make about their privacy at work and how the policies that are in place can affect an employee’s privacy at work. At Abacus Technology electronic communication such as e-mail and internet use is encouraged, however, electronic communications are considered company property and their purpose is only to be used for company business. The policy on electronic communication relates to all electronic media and services, which are accessed using company computer equipment, while on company premises, or by company-paid access methods, and used in a manner which identifies the individual with the company. Employees are not supposed to use electronic communications for excessive personal use, soliciting non-company business, and conducting activities that are illegal or contrary to the firm’s best interest. Individuals are also asked not to access criminal websites or transmit...
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...E-Mail and Internet Policy Darryn Cooper COM/285 Angie Robert August 24, 2011 E-Mail and Internet Policy The integrity of a business relies on communication, both using internal and external communications. E-mails and the internet are two ways that businesses communicate with shareholders, employees and their customers. In today’s global market, the use of computer guidelines and policies have been implemented to ensure that all employees adhere to those policies. Communication via the internet and use of emails should be carefully considered when using it. This essay will discuss why e-mail and internet policies have been put in place. *1Congress passed the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, (Privacy Act) to safeguard records of information pertaining to individuals that Federal agencies or components own and maintain. The Department of Defense (DoD) policy regarding e-mail and internet use is very strict. All employees who are employed by the DoD are given a Common Access Card (CAC). The CAC is inserted into the computer and requires that you enter a password. At no time should you leave your CAC in the computer when an individual leaves his or her computer. Ashmore ( 2009), " Many federal laws affect employer regulation of email and internet uses, such as the Federal Wiretap Act; the Electronic Communications Privacy Act; and the Stored Communications Act. In addition, state...
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...Employers want to be sure that their employees are performing their duties, but employees want to have a bit of privacy and not have their every sneeze or bathroom break monitored. This is the conflict of workplace monitoring. Technologies today allow employers to monitor almost every aspect of their employee’s job including the time he, or she, arrive to the office, telephone use, Internet use, computer terminals, and voicemail. This kind of monitoring is virtually unregulated, therefore, unless it is stated in the company policy, an employer has the right to listen, watch, and read most an employees workplace communications. The e-mail policy at Dell Services Federal Government (DSFG) is lax, whereas, the company would like the majority of communication to be work-related; employees are allowed to communicate with others for personal use as well. This policy is covered in our handbook, it simply states that if one wishes to keep information private do not store or transmit information on company systems. Private e-mail accounts have been blocked from our server so use of personal e-mail is not permitted. Similar to the e-mail policy, the company wants the internet to be used majority for work-related business. However, short personal business such as paying a bill, making a purchase, locating something, or other small personal business is permitted. During the employees lunch hours, all are allowed to surf the net and visit networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, and...
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...Employee Privacy Report University of Phoenix COMM285/ Business Communication September, 10th 2011 Date: September 10th, 2011. To: H. Dixton Re: Monitoring practices for Computers use, Internet, e-mail, and company Privacy Policies at O & R Fashion Inc. O& R Fashion Incorporated implemented new regulations to its current company privacy policy to regulate and monitor its employees’ e-mail and internet practices. The Internet use, electronic mail, and employee privacy policies needed to be reevaluated so employees can comply with company formal policies, regulations, procedures and because in the past our company’s managerial staff experienced many unresolved issues with employees due to their uncertainty to how to implement our policies. As a result O & R Fashion Incorporated with the association of its HR services developed an updated policy manual to monitor emails, and Internet access, however; providing the appropriate balance between company’s rights and employee’s privacy rights. The new changes and implementations to our existing privacy policies will reduce or even avoid misunderstandings or any similar situations in the future. This report was completed to explain the new implementations regarding emails usage, and Internet practices within our company and the reasons why O & R Fashion Incorporated decided to implement them. This report will also address some of the employees’ assumptions regarding such policies, how employees are affected by...
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...Employee Privacy Report • Write a 1,050- to 1,200-word report addressing e-mail, Internet use, and privacy policies. Answer the following questions in your report: o What are the e-mail use, Internet use, and privacy policies at your job? The email policy at my job at the Florida Foundation for Families (hereinafter “FFF”) are that work email is strictly to be used for work purposes and not for personal use. The policy is covered in our Employee Handbook, and states that the rationale for the policy is that we should only be working during work time, and that if we were to use work email for private use, it could expose the company to internet threats that would otherwise be easily avoidable. For instance, if we were to use email for private use and were to open an attachment that contained a virus, we could potentially jeopardize the entire system’s network. During our break periods and lunch we are allowed to use private email accounts, but we are likewise instructed not to open any attachments on our work computers in order to avoid the same threat that would be posed by using our private email accounts for such purposes. Like our email policy, the internet is supposed to only be used for work purposes as well, however, since work purposes aren’t strictly defined there is definitely more leeway in how we can use the internet, since we could be looking at an article in an online magazine or newspaper that’s work related. We are still forbidden from using any...
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...Week Five Reports and Presentations • Identify skills needed to deliver effective oral presentations. • Create a written report. Course Assignments 1. Readings • Read this week’s Weekly Overview. • Read Ch. 15–17 of Business and Administrative Communication. • Review this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. 2. Individual Assignment: Employee Privacy Report • Write a 1,050- to 1,200-word report addressing e-mail, Internet use, and privacy policies. • Answer: o What are the e-mail use, Internet use, and privacy policies at your job? o What are the current laws regulating employee e-mail and Internet privacy? o Why do companies implement e-mail and Internet use policies? o What assumptions might employees make about their privacy at work? How do these policies affect employee privacy at work? 3. Individual Assignment: Final Examination • Resource: Business and Administrative Communication • Click the link to the Final Examination on your student website available from the end of Week Four through the end of Week Five. • Complete the Final Examination. You are allowed one attempt to complete the exam, which is timed and must be completed in 3 hours. Results are auto-graded and sent to your facilitator. Note. Final Examination questions are adapted from the text. 4. Learning Team Assignment: Oral Presentation • Create a 10- to 15-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation on the subject of oral presentation best practices. o...
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...Project part.2 Corporate security policy (7) Dear Richman Investments Senior Management – It has come to my attention that your corporate security policy for the firm is out of date and that it needs to be updated. In my time here as an intern I have reviewed the security policy and revised it to keep up with all of the technological updates going on in the internet world today. I was assigned this project and being that we have 5000 employees operating in different locations and different parts of the country; I have noticed that some of the other branches do not follow the firms’ policies as they should. Some branches operate on their own policies. I have drafted up a new and improved corporate security policy that covers emails, mobile devices, computer usage, email retention policies, passwords, etc. I hope this will help streamline our security policy across the board so that everyone is on the same page and so there is no misinterpretation of the firm employee or otherwise. RICHMAN INVESTMENTS CORPORATE SECURITY POLICY Use of Phone and Mail Systems Personal use of the telephone for long-distance and toll calls is not permitted. Employees should Practice discretion when making local personal calls and may be required to reimburse The Firm for any charges resulting from their personal use of the telephone. The mail system is reserved for business purposes only. Employees should refrain from sending or receiving personal mail at the workplace. To ensure...
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...an employee can reasonably expect to have privacy in the workplace. When it comes to employment, many employee privacy rights are granted by specific laws, rules, and/or regulations. For example, there are laws that create a right to privacy in employee personnel records, the use and maintenance of employee social security numbers, employee medical information, background screenings, and the like. But what about cases in which there is no specific statute or code that creates a right to privacy? Does one exist anyway? The answer is maybe. Sometimes, whether a privacy right exists is determined by reference to the "reasonable expectation of privacy." This is a concept which basically asks if, in the particular circumstances, it was reasonable to expect that certain conduct or communications would be considered private. "Reasonable expectation of privacy" can be raised where, for example, an employer searches an employee's office or cubicle, looks through an employee's working files, or searches an employee's locker at work. Was it reasonable for the employee to believe that his or her office or cubicle is a private area that the employer cannot search without first asking permission? Determining whether there was a "reasonable expectation of privacy" typically involves a balancing test, and many factors must be considered to decide whether the employee had a privacy right in answer to these questions. Items...
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...Electronic Privacy Electronic communications in the workplace is as common as type writers once were in an office. Technology has changed allowing people to work smarter and give us the ability to communicate across time zones and even globally with ease. An article on emarketer.com reported on the results of a survey conducted by Vault.com. According to the survey, 25% of employees use the Internet for personal use during office hours for at least 10 minutes each day. Thirteen percent of workers use the Internet for at least two hours per day. According to the survey cited above, “... 35% of employers think personal web time should be limited to 30 minutes per day” (McKay). The expectation of privacy by an employee during the time he or she uses the Internet at work remains in question. Currently a standard for electronic communications at my current employer are not in writing or is it part of new employee orientation. Computer use varies by employees. Internet connection is made by telephone versus DSL or cable connection. Computers are turned off at the end of the day. E-mail accounts need to be accessible by all three location general managers as well as by the president of the company. This way if an employee is on vacation e-mails do not have to be forwarded and can be answered or addressed by one of the other general managers. So all though it is not part of the new employee orientation it is obvious that there is no expectation of privacy in the workplace. In the Information...
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...office e-mail? Is that legal? YESTERDAY, as you sat working at your desk, you checked your e-mail and spotted a note from a friend. The message was an off-color joke complete with graphic illustration. Sure, some stick-in-the-mud might find it offensive, but it was awfully funny. So, without thinking, you clicked on the forward button, typed in an e-mail address or two or three, and hit the send button. No big deal, right? You don't give the e-mail another thought until this morning when a somber supervisor invites you to her office. She hands you a letter of reprimand along with a copy of the e-mail. She tells you that as a matter of office policy, employee e-mails are monitored. Copies are placed in your file, and, in the event it happens again, she warns that you'll receive a termination letter. It simply never occurred to you that someone might be monitoring your e-mail. What about your right to privacy? WHAT HAPPENED TO PRIVACY? As an employee, the idea of being monitored may trouble you. As an employer, the idea of monitoring employees may be equally distasteful. The right to privacy is so thoroughly ingrained in most of us that we take it for granted--especially in a peaceful environment when we're sitting alone, typing into a computer. We may be lulled into a false sense of isolation and freedom from observation. But even if the technology is available, aren't there simply too many e-mails and too much Internet use to review effectively? After all, the Internet is so...
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