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Is it legal to open someone's post in work marked 'private and confidential'?

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Comments

  • #62
    ZeroThreat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,332 ✭✭✭ZeroThreat


    intheclouds wrote: »
    I would most certainly fake myself a solicitors letter with details of a huge, I mean a disgustingly large, inheritance.

    Perhaps one from a government agency informing me of recent developments in the criminal case that I am now in witness protection for.

    But definitely, most definitely, some kind of exploding ink letter - with red ink of course, just so she can wear her nosiness about for a few days.

    Just avoid the Ted Kaczynski option....


  • #63
    Avatar MIA
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,748 ✭✭✭Avatar MIA


    intheclouds wrote: »
    I would most certainly fake myself a solicitors letter with details of a huge, I mean a disgustingly large, inheritance.


    I'm sure there's some Nigerian Prince that could sort you out.


  • #64
    the_syco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,308 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    sbsquarepants wrote: »
    Emails, phone calls, letters are all fair game, if you want to keep something private - don't do it in work, simple!
    Regarding the emails; if it's not written in the contract, I wonder would the company be in breach of data protection laws?

    I know that in the UK, just because you're their boss, doesn't automatically mean you can access their work emails without their authorization. In a past job, I came across this scenario often enough, and every time I had to ensure that authorization was given before access was granted.


  • #65
    Avatar MIA
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,748 ✭✭✭Avatar MIA


    the_syco wrote: »
    Regarding the emails; if it's not written in the contract, I wonder would the company be in breach of data protection laws?

    I know that in the UK, just because you're their boss, doesn't automatically mean you can access their work emails without their authorization. In a past job, I came across this scenario often enough, and every time I had to ensure that authorization was given before access was granted.

    Data protection laws for Company emails? Company emails are just that, and why most company policies state that they should only be used for work purposes. Work emails can be accessed by managers.


  • #66
    stoplooklisten
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,492 ✭✭✭stoplooklisten


    regarding the uk https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/basic-rights-and-contracts/monitoring-at-work/


    Employers have the right to monitor your activities in many situations at work. Monitoring in the workplace includes:-

    recording on CCTV cameras
    opening mail or e-mail
    use of automated software to check e-mail
    checking phone logs or recording of phone calls
    checking logs of websites visited
    videoing outside the workplace
    getting information from credit reference agencies
    collecting information through 'point of sale' terminals, such as supermarket checkouts, to check the performance of individual operators.

    ....
    Except in extremely limited circumstances, employers must take reasonable steps to let staff know that monitoring is happening, what is being monitored and why it is necessary.

    Employers who can justify monitoring once they have carried out a proper impact assessment will usually not need the consent of individual members of staff.


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  • #67
    ohmplate
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48 ✭ohmplate


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    That is the way 99% of companies operate: it is someone's delegated job to open the mail, employees do not have any right to direct dealings with customers.

    In fact, for many of us, company policies forbid receiving personal mail at work.

    I've worked for 9 different companies and not a single 1 had a mail room or a CEO that gave a fiddlers what my new runners or anything else I got delivered there looked like. That's 100% of my experience so you can put your "99%" figure in the bin.


  • #68
    harr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,534 ✭✭✭harr


    ohmplate wrote: »
    I've worked for 9 different companies and not a single 1 had a mail room or a CEO that gave a fiddlers what my new runners or anything else I got delivered there looked like. That's 100% of my experience so you can put your "99%" figure in the bin.
    Same as any company I have ever worked for, it was never a big deal getting private mail delivered to my place of work...none of my bosses ever gave a toss as to what or why I was getting Mail delivered and I always received it unopened or tampered with..I wouldn't be happy if somebody did open my personal stuff especially a nosey biddy who only wanted gossip...


  • #69
    2rkehij30qtza5
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,476 ✭✭✭2rkehij30qtza5


    ohmplate wrote: »
    I've worked for 9 different companies and not a single 1 had a mail room or a CEO that gave a fiddlers what my new runners or anything else I got delivered there looked like. That's 100% of my experience so you can put your "99%" figure in the bin.

    OP here. The company I work for does not mind people getting private mail by the way...as long as it's marked as such!!!


  • #70
    Palmach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,045 ✭✭✭Palmach


    Graham wrote: »
    Just because you do it, that doesn't make it legal.

    Actually it is not illegal.


  • #71
    vector
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,756 ✭✭✭vector


    Yosef Great Nail wrote: »
    Many thanks


    I see that another poster has quoted the "Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983" which says that its an offence for someone to tamper/open someone elses post.

    However, just for the sake of completeness here, a potential loophole...
    does that act only refer to envelopes delivered by An Post.

    So, if the envelope in question here was delivered by DHL or indeed delivered by Hand perhaps the Act might not apply.

    #DevilsAdvocate


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  • #72
    GM228
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,917 ✭✭✭GM228


    vector wrote: »
    I see that another poster has quoted the "Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983" which says that its an offence for someone to tamper/open someone elses post.

    However, just for the sake of completeness here, a potential loophole...
    does that act only refer to envelopes delivered by An Post.

    So, if the envelope in question here was delivered by DHL or indeed delivered by Hand perhaps the Act might not apply.

    #DevilsAdvocate

    It dosn't matter as the relevant section in the 1983 act was repealed, the relevant section in the 2011 act relates to a postal package from a postal service provider and applies to any post which is distributed so includes hand letters, couriers etc.


  • #73
    Dial Hard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 15,327 ✭✭✭✭Dial Hard


    Ashbx wrote: »
    Im don't know for certain but in the firm I work in, we have a post room. The assistant in there opens all post, it then goes to the CEO who has a brief check through it all and then gets distributed to the necessary people. I just asked the post man in our office and he said that he was told to open EVERY letter by the CEO (even it if is marked confidential) but chooses not to
    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    That is the way 99% of companies operate: it is someone's delegated job to open the mail, employees do not have any right to direct dealings with customers.

    I've never come across a company large enough to warrant a mail room where the CEO would have the time or inclination to check every item of post that enters the building. What a bizarre waste of time for someone who presumably has better things to be doing.


  • #74
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 74,404 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    I've never worked in a company that didn't deliver personally address post (be it personal or business but directly addressed) to the recipient unopened. It would only be that sent to a generic name ("The Customer Care Manager"/"Sales" etc) that was opened. Current employer has cubbyholes

    I would agree above that if a firm is big enough to have a mail room the CEO has many better things to do with their time than even look at incoming post and likely isn't even there every day!


  • #75
    Icepick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,456 ✭✭✭Icepick


    L1011 wrote: »
    I've never worked in a company that didn't deliver personally address post (be it personal or business but directly addressed) to the recipient unopened. It would only be that sent to a generic name ("The Customer Care Manager"/"Sales" etc) that was opened. Current employer has cubbyholes

    I would agree above that if a firm is big enough to have a mail room the CEO has many better things to do with their time than even look at incoming post and likely isn't even there every day!
    CEO of a company big enough to have a mail room doesn't have enough time to go through post adressed to them, let alone others.


  • #76
    Ashbx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 750 ✭✭✭Ashbx


    Dial Hard wrote: »
    I've never come across a company large enough to warrant a mail room where the CEO would have the time or inclination to check every item of post that enters the building. What a bizarre waste of time for someone who presumably has better things to be doing.

    Well now you have! :D

    Maybe its the line of work I am in (I work in a law firm) but yeah the Managing Director goes through all post. Now when I say go through, he takes a quick glance to see if anything catches his eye but ive been here for 10 years and he's been doing it every day since ive been here anyway. I do agree it seems like a complete waste of time but he needs to know whats going on in his company!


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