MGMT 210 Week 3 Discussion 2

MGMT 210 Week 3 Discussion 2 | Devry University

Week 3: Social Media, E-mails, and Privacy

Over the last few years, companies have begun relying significantly on technology to assist employees in handling their day-to-day operations. As a result, the work-home divide has blurred, and people handle personal items (e-mail, Facebook, etc.) on company computers and company work (e-mail, texting, instant messages) on their personal devices (cell, cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc.).

With this blending has come serious concerns by companies about their private company information falling into the wrong hands (customer lists, trade secrets, etc.), and employees have concerns about their privacy being invaded at work, by coworkers, and by their IT departments. Further, HRM handles immense amounts of personal information on employees, including home addresses, personnel records, pay information, SSNs, and more.

Therefore, privacy concerns comprise a two-way street. Laws have been passed (and are being passed and considered every day) by states and Congress to protect both parties. As an example, Illinois recently passed a law making it illegal for potential employers to require people to give them their social network passwords during interviews. Soon thereafter, other states passed similar laws.

What are some other technology privacy laws that apply to workers and employers in the United States? How do they protect employees from privacy invasion and how to they actually allow employers to invade the privacy of their employees? Is your personal e-mail safe at work if you use your company computer to read it? How about your personal phone calls on the company phones? Pick a concept and get started.