Reviewing the question posed, the case reflects an employee’s reasonable expectation of privacy. In the United States of America versus Jeffrey Ziegler, Mr. Ziegler is claiming the search and seizure of items from his workplace office was illegal because he had a reasonable expectation of privacy and the proper warrant was never issued to search his property. The IT department of Mr. Ziegler’s employer reported concerns to the FBI that Mr. Ziegler was accessing websites featuring child pornography from his work computer. Through the investigation process, the FBI determined Mr. Ziegler’s locked office and password protected work computer had been the point of origin for these searches and could reasonably be attributed to him. The FBI was granted permission to access the employees office, …show more content…
Electronic communications can include computers, voicemail, email, IM, text messages, internet, intranet, and telephone systems. The equipment often belongs to the employer, although it does not have to (), and they are paying for the employees time. My employer, Cox Automotive, utilizes 7 pages of our 60 page Employee Handbook to discuss the “Electronic Information Systems Policy” (2015). Further reviewing my employer’s policy in regards to property and overall electronic monitoring, I discovered along with computers and phone systems, Cox Automotive clearly explains their policy reserving the right to install tracking applications onto any laptop, tablet, cell phone, or other mobile device. Although I do not believe I am currently being actively tracked, I was somewhat surprised to read that allowing for such is a part of my employment agreement with Cox Automotive. Monitoring helps to guard employers in situations of litigation and to protect corporate secrets and intellectual property (). It is a necessity in today’s business world, although it can feel uncomfortable at