Some people think that the companies should not monitor e-mail correspondence of their employees because it destroys the atmosphere of trust and undermines employee morale. Others believe that the e-mails should be monitored to keep a check on leak of any confidential information which can put business at risk. This issue is a contentious one. However, a closer examination reveals that, for loss to business due to reduced mutual trust and numerous other reasons, the e-mail correspondence of employees should not be monitored.
The chief reason is that monitoring of e-mails of employees shall lead to spreading of sentiment amongst the employees that the management doesn't trust them. They would then undermine their role in achieving company' goal and wouldn't work towards achieving it. As a result, the employees shall not work whole-heartedly and the company shall not meet its goal.
Second reason is that the employees shall always have the feeling that they are under surveillance. Thus, the communication over the e-mails shall become highly formal. Employees shall become apprehensive of taking decisions over the e-mail. This shall make decision making highly bureaucratic. Again the business performance shall suffer. Moreover, employees share some personal e-mails amongst themselves. This leads to more interaction and a congenial work environment. Due to monitoring of e-mails, this personal interaction shall stop. As a result the employees shall be more formal with each other leading to reduced efficiency.
Some people might argue that some employees might leak company's confidential information which can put business at risk. However, such a thing shall happen only when the employees don't feel themselves to be a partner in business. Therefore, the company should work on increasing the employee engagement and making them feel an integral part of the company. Moreover, if employee is dishonest then he might very well find ways other then e-mail to leak the confidential information.
In summary, while there are many arguments to be made for both the sides, it is clear that disadvantages of monitoring the e-mails of employees outweigh its advantages. Hence, employees' e-mail shouldn't be monitored by the employer.
The chief reason is that monitoring of e-mails of employees shall lead to spreading of sentiment amongst the employees that the management doesn't trust them. They would then undermine their role in achieving company' goal and wouldn't work towards achieving it. As a result, the employees shall not work whole-heartedly and the company shall not meet its goal.
Second reason is that the employees shall always have the feeling that they are under surveillance. Thus, the communication over the e-mails shall become highly formal. Employees shall become apprehensive of taking decisions over the e-mail. This shall make decision making highly bureaucratic. Again the business performance shall suffer. Moreover, employees share some personal e-mails amongst themselves. This leads to more interaction and a congenial work environment. Due to monitoring of e-mails, this personal interaction shall stop. As a result the employees shall be more formal with each other leading to reduced efficiency.
Some people might argue that some employees might leak company's confidential information which can put business at risk. However, such a thing shall happen only when the employees don't feel themselves to be a partner in business. Therefore, the company should work on increasing the employee engagement and making them feel an integral part of the company. Moreover, if employee is dishonest then he might very well find ways other then e-mail to leak the confidential information.
In summary, while there are many arguments to be made for both the sides, it is clear that disadvantages of monitoring the e-mails of employees outweigh its advantages. Hence, employees' e-mail shouldn't be monitored by the employer.
