According to a Reuter’s story published yesterday, a Wal-Mart technician was fired for monitoring and recording phone calls between some of its public relations people and a New York Times reporter.  Two managers were given the boot, as well.

Not that I’m pro-wire tap, but I am starting to scratch my head just a bit on how long that’s going to be a crime.  Reason for my scalp itch? Some companies are pretty particular about how employees use their email, and they reserve the right to monitor all incoming and outgoing transmissions. Here are their arguments:

a. Use of email takes up company bandwidth. The company pays for that bandwidth, and therefore has a right to know how its resources are being used.

b. Any correspondence issued via email is considered to be equal to a piece of snail mail using company letterhead.  Since correspondence on company letterhead represents the company, they reserve the right to know how their company is being represented.

Good arguments exist on both sides of those rules, but that’s a topic for another time.  My question is this: How long before some corporate lawyer argues that it should be perfectly legal for a company to listen in on telephone conversations being held on company phones – for the same reasons they reserve the right to monitor email?

Granted, the law currently sides with the companies on email but prohibits wiretapping, and that’s a (very) good reason why it’s not happening now.  But I wonder how long it will be before some lawyer tries to push the envelope . . . . 

And, if the effort is successful, what will be its effect on workplace excellence?

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Filed in Business, Opinion, Management, Leadership, Teambuilding