Bosses warned over email snooping

EMPLOYERS could face prosecution if they snoop on workers without telling them. Intrusive monitoring of emails, voicemails and internet usage will have to be justified and employees will have to be told when they are being monitored.

The advice to firms is contained in the Employment Practices Data Protection Code. It is published today by Information Commissioner Richard Thomas who is responsible for enforcing the Data Protection Act.

The CBI warned that the code had not gone far enough to address business concerns. John Cridland, CBI deputy director-general, said: 'Companies want clear guidance on monitoring so they can strike the difficult balance between protecting privacy and preventing abuse of the system.'