Last year, large numbers of employers, works councils and individuals submitted questions on the subject to the Dutch Data Protection Authority. This was the reason behind the Authority undertaking a study on check processes in the use of e-mail and Internet. Firstly, the practical and legal backgrounds to the problem are outlined on the basis of examples and real-life cases. 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.