E-mail--Legal Issues

How should companies manage reasonable use of private email and Internet searches by employees at work? When might these policies breach an employment contract? Can an employer read staff emails and what is the law on email surveillance?

This new report from IT/ecommerce legal expert Susan Singleton focuses on the employment issue of email and Internet use in the office - arguably the most important and universally applicable part of Internet law.

Know the law and save legal costs. Checklists and real-life examples illustrate how to comply with the Human Rights Act (1998), the Data Protection Act (1998) and the new code of practice for employers, as well as the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and the business practice regulations made under it.

The chances of unwittingly breaking the law are higher than you think: breaches of confidentiality, infringement of rights, defamation, breach of copyright. With a coherent e-mail and interent policy and proper procedures in place, you can minimize damage and the risk of costly wrongful dismissal claims.

Susan Singleton is described by Chambers and Partners Legal Directory as one of the leading UK IT lawyers. Her firm Singletons specializes in Internet/IT/e-commerce law, competition law, intellectual property law and general commercial law. She is author of over 30 law books on topics such as Internet and e-commerce law, competition law, commercial agency law, data protection legislation and intellectual property and writes 15 legal articles a month. She is a frequent speaker in the intellectual property, competition and commercial law fields, both in the UK and abroad.