3 minute read
Using a work email address for personal correspondence might seem convenient, but this practice can lead to various privacy and perhaps legal issues. This article outlines why employees should keep their work and personal emails separate and provides insight into how this relates to seeking independent employment law advice.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that your work email may not private. In Northern Ireland, employers have the right to monitor their employees’ work emails as long as the reason for monitoring is legitimate and reasonable within the context of the business.
Anything you send from your work may be scrutinised by your employer. This could include personal messages to friends and family, online purchases or confidential correspondence with external entities such as your solicitor or trade union.
If an employee was able to prove that there is a reasonable expectation of privacy when using a work email, there may be grounds for a misuse of private information claim. However, this is a complex area and the eventual outcome would depend entirely on the circumstances of each individual case.
Such a dispute could be avoided by ensuring that personal correspondence is addressed using a personal email address.
It is advisable to use a personal email address when emailing a solicitor about a work-related issue. This practice ensures that the details of your case are kept confidential and aren’t inadvertently disclosed to your employer through routine monitoring of work emails.
If you require legal advice on any matter relating to employment law, Contact Us today. Or, visit Employment Law to learn more about our services.
