Both scenarios do cause difficulties:-
1. A personal drive on a work computer (Either network or stand alone) An
area provided to an employee to keep and develop work in private before it
is made available within the organisation - How private is that? Is there a
need for the employer to ever access it, provided their is no indication of
abuse?
2. A home computer belonging to the member of staff and located at their
home address. If home working is allowed it should be covered in a form of
home working policy. What access is permissible in those circumstances?
Ian W
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Trent,Tim
Sent: 28 June 2002 08:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Access to Home Drives
I took and take the word "Personal" to mean literally that. The personal
drive on a computer owned by the member of staff. If the equipment is owned
and maintained by the employer there can be no complaint. I do not have a
"personal" drive on the computer I am using to create this email. I keep
personal stuff on it in the full knowledge that my employer has every right
to see it, but NOT to make use of it. But to me the original email was
phrased to imply something much more sinister: The inspection of truly
personal disks on truly personal machines. Hence my very strong reaction.
I would appreciate the originator being more specific.
-----Original Message-----
From: Graham Smith [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 28 June 2002 08:18
To: Trent,Tim; [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Access to Home Drives
You appear to be over-reacting.
There is a general recognition in the commercial world (which seems to be
absent in some parts of the public sector) that equipment is provided on the
basis of a business requirement. In other words, if one's employer allows
some incidental private use of equipment owned by the business that should
be regarded as a privilege.
Increasingly it appears that employers are reacting to employees abusing
such privileges by withdrawing them. Typically this may result in
prohibiting private use of Internet access and computer facilities,
inspecting emails and other correspondence (including opening anything
marked "Private and Confidential") that are being sent or received using the
employer's facilities.
All of this seems quite reasonable to me (assuming that good practices, such
as informing employees of such policies). Indeed, as a taxpayer, I object to
my having to pay money to subsidise private activities of public sector
employees.
--
Graham Smith
> -----Original Message-----
> From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Trent,Tim
> Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2002 4:08 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Access to Home Drives
>
>
> I would go to the press about it and create such a stink that the
> idea would be stillborn. Whether it is legal or not, it tramples
> over any right to any sort of life at all.
>
> Presumably they would also like to check their dustbins?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Julie Davenport [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 27 June 2002 16:05
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Access to Home Drives
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> A member of staff has just received a query from one of our Service Areas.
> The Directors for this Service Area would like access to all their staff's
> personal hard drives. I've been asked if this breaches Human Rights. I'm
> thinking it'll breach article 8 (right to a private, family life and
> correspondence). My main concerns are that staff's hard drives can hold
> confidential information, relating to work.
>
> I would like to know your opinions on this. What are your current
> procedures? Do you allow it? If so, have you informed your staff that
> their hard drives are visable to their Superiors? And how did you get
> around the Human Rights issue? Have you refused access, did you use
> article 8? Or did you refuse under other circumstances?
>
> Your comments will be greatly appreciated.
>
> Regards,
> Julie Davenport
> Data Protection Adviser
> Wolverhampton City Council
>
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