Employers Must Face Up to New Email Issues

By Brian Jebb

Recent developments have imposed more onerous obligations on employers, and have stressed the need for consistency and openness when dealing with new issues facing the workplace.

The NSW government plan to outlaw covert surveillance and monitoring of workers is a sign of a changing climate for employers. Employers should be developing or have developed clear, consistent guidelines to ensure employees are aware of what is and what is not acceptable.

Email policies need to be established to clear up what is acceptable. One of the most spoken about areas is the sending of jokes and other materials that can expose employers to discrimination and harassment claims. This article sets out a system for establishing and promoting policies and how complaints can be investigated and dealt with, and also looks at the proposed surveillance legislation.

(CCH Work Alert. issue 11, 11 November 2003)