A set of rules of thumb results which serve as guide to employers in setting out a carefully prepared and proper policy. It will be obvious that the rules will also be useful to works councils and individual employees in judging an employer's policy and its consequences for their privacy. Employees give up some of their privacy at their place of work. One way in which this occurs is by the employer verifying the use of e-mail and Internet. However, the effect of such control, certainly exercised systematically, can be enormous.
Clear rules offer essential guidelines for employer and employee.
The employer has to set down the reasons why he considers control necessary. These measures should be in reasonable proportion to the interests of employees. After all, employees do not only use e-mail for business purposes, but occasionally also for private matters. The employee should be allowed to do his work according to his own judgement without constantly having his boss look over his shoulder. Continuous control of e-mail, its contents in particular, harms this.