Email Policy at Johnson & Dresser - Essay Example

Case study Questions and Answers Is it illegal to open regular postal mail not addressed to you? Yes, it is illegal to open regular mail not addresses to you because every Individual has right of privacy. One should not open the mail which doesn’t belong to him/ her it is an unethical practice.2. Was what Johnson & Dresser doing illegal?Yes, they were doing illegal activity by saving email messages without the permission of their employees. Several employers encompass an erroneous belief that they are free to examine worker letters whenever they want.

Johnson & dresser did very wrong thing first they encouraged their employees to use electronic mail and they didn’t inform them about they email privacy policy which was set by the company. They told them that the privacy of the employees is respected that was totally wrong they kept their employees in darkness and without their consent they read their email.3. If it is illegal to do one and legal to do the other – what is the difference that Makes it ok? It is legal under some circumstances and illegal in other words.

It is necessary to for the managers to maintain the business ethics within business environment. So in this case it becomes legal when the employers at the time of recruitment or employment clear the privacy policy to its employees. They should know how much privacy they can enjoy under the privacy policy set by the company. Their consent in reading mails should be made the criteria of employment. So that they would know that all the emails could be read by the manager for any assistance.It is illegal when the policies regarding reading mails secretly or having full access to employee email messages is hidden from the workers.

Or when they are told that they can enjoy full privacy in this regard but indeed they keep on eye on their emails.4. What are reasons that could be used to justify a company archiving and reading employee emails?There could be number of reasons varying from organization to organization. It mainly depends upon the policies and nature of company. So mostly this option is availed by the companies to keep track of their employee’s performance regarding their jobs. For example they can check whether the sales officer is dealing with the customer in the suitable manner or doing his job with full sense of responsibility or not.

Employee can use the email for work purpose only and can’t use it for personal use while at work. It is right of the company to keep track of it to reduce extra expenses.5. What are some possible negative ramifications of doing this?The negative consequence could be reduction in the productivity of the company. Only those employee would feel uncomfortable with this policy who really not too much in work. They doesn’t rely on handwork and are not that much fair with their jobs. But of course this policy offers bit strict working environment so employees would try to be careful for this they would work in pressure all the time which can result in less productive outcome.6. What do you think is an appropriate policy?

As far as my opinion is concerned, I think the appropriate policy is that employer should keep track of emails and tell his employees that it is for their benefit that we keep the records of your emails as they would never be blamed for such mistakes or scandals in which they were not involved. Furthermore by tracking their performance through reading their emails certain incentives would be offered to them. So it’s all about their benefit and interest that we keep records of your emails. Work citedBNET: Email policy; http://jobfunctions.bnet.com/abstract.aspx?&docid=344109Cem Kaner, J.D., Ph.D. Department of Computer SciencesFlorida Institute of Technology April 11, 2001, Florida Tech Business Ethics Conference.

Journal of business ethics 14: 819-827, 1995Kluwer Academic Publisher. Printed in the Netherlands