Are Employers Entitled to Monitor Employees’ Text Messages

Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about privacy at work. See Privacy in the Workplace: Overview for more general information.

Employers Who Spy On Text Messages

Employers can usually search an employee's workspace , including their desk, office or lockers. The workspace technically belongs to the employer, and courts have found that employees do not have an expectation of privacy in these areas.

This is also the case for computers. Since the computers and networking equipment typically belong to the employer, the employer is generally entitled to monitor the use of the computer. This includes searching for files saved to the computer itself, as well as monitoring an employee's actions while using the computer e. Some states may have laws concerning searches at work, and unions may have included terms about searches during collective bargaining.

Popular Directory Searches

Employees should always check on the laws in their state and the terms of any employment contract they may have. If it's your personal car, then probably not.

Is Employer Monitoring of Employee Social Media Justified? PRO

If your employer believes that you have dangerous or illegal materials in your car, they should call the police rather than searching the car themselves. Can my employer read my emails or listen to my phone calls? What about text messages on a company phone? Employees generally don't have any privacy in their emails at work. Again, since the email system belongs to the employer, they are allowed to monitor their employees' communications.

Can I Get Fired for Private Emails or Text Messages?

Kennedy wrote , arguing that the court should not use the case of a police officer who sends numerous text messages on company equipment to "establish far-reaching premises that define the existence, and extent, of privacy expectations" of workers. That might strengthen the case for an expectation of privacy. On the other hand, the ubiquity of those devices has made them generally affordable, so one could counter that employees who need cell phones or similar devices for personal matters can purchase and pay for their own.


  1. The New Free Snapchat Hacking App for Android by which You Can to Get Boyfriend Snapchat Secretly.
  2. Employers have a lot of leeway to monitor employee emails.;
  3. Spy on Your Husbands or Boyfriends SMS.
  4. Monitor Someones Snapchat Photo for iPhone.

The Supreme Court's ruling in City of Ontario v. Cell Phone tracking software, such as that provided by Safeguarde , can help track text message traffic, both incoming and outgoing.

Workplace Privacy

Legal Status It should be noted that whilst installing such software onto employees company cell phones is not in itself illegal, it would always be best practice to inform employees that such monitoring spy on text messages is being undertaken. Tags spy on text messages Text messages spy text spy.