The limited right to privacy protects people from unreasonable or unwarranted intrusions into their personal affairs. This general right to privacy would include the employee’s right to have their personnel files, other employee records, and/or private areas of their workplace (such as a personal locker) kept private, to an extent. The organization would have a general duty to protect individual employee privacy in most cases, whether dealing with the employee’s private life, personal history, or private areas in the workplace.
However, if the employer feels that there might be a hazard to others, in keeping with all employees’ right to life and safety, a locker or other personal space (e.g., a desk) could be searched. Another limitation on privacy is in email to and from company addresses. The employer again has a right to review any information in these types of correspondence to protect other employees and the organization.
