{"id":4793,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:45","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/workplace-privacy.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T05:43:18","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T10:43:18","slug":"workplace-privacy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/workplace-privacy.html","title":{"rendered":"Workplace Privacy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Workplace Privacy<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

The Supreme Court created the American right to privacy in its decision, Griswold v. Connecticut<\/i><\/a> (1965). The Court took elements of the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and 14th Amendments and ruled that U.S. citizens have a constitutional right to privacy in all their affairs.<\/p>\r\n

Employees surrender some of their rights when they go to work. But they still have a reasonable expectation of privacy at the workplace. Employers can only peek so far into their workers’ lives on company time. Business owners must balance their workers’ rights with their company’s needs for protection.<\/p>\r\n

Federal and state laws allow employers to limit employee privacy while at work. This article discusses the limits of employee rights and employer invasion of privacy within the law.<\/p>\r\n

What Are Employee Privacy Rights?<\/h2>\r\n

Employees have basic rights to privacy in their workspace. Some of these rights include:<\/p>\r\n