In a column for the Financial Post, Drew Hasselback writes that employers have the right to know what an employee does on a company-issued computer, but employers should be careful about how they weigh their rights against an employee's privacy rights. Hasselback says that the "heart of the matter is reasonable expectation of privacy." Implementing formal policies that clearly state an employer's expectations and rights is a first step, but "even with a clear policy in place, the employer needs to consider whether the employee has a reasonable expectation of privacy over the files or e-mails." A Vancouver-based attorney adds that before an employer starts monitoring usage, "Ask yourself: Is there a less privacy-intrusive way to do it?"
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