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Most companies, even in the EU, say that workplace systems are for performance of job duties only. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily legally enforceable, but e

Most companies, even in the EU, say that workplace systems are for performance of job duties only. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily legally enforceable, but either way it’s a much more nuanced argument than it’s being portrayed as. If I have a right to use company systems to organize a strike, how do they then account for those messages in their normal record keeping and compliance procedures? Do they also have to retain them for x years along with everything else? If they have some kind of mandatory audit procedure how do they separate those emails out so that they aren’t reviewed on a regular basis? If someone sexually harasses someone in what is not specifically a workplace communication but do it over company email how does that impact their liability? How does it impact what materials may have to be handed over for any kind of other lawsuit? If I were going to protest the company who is actually paying me presently I would never do it using their email system so for me it’s a moot point, but it’s not quite as cut and dry as an evil corporation trying to restrict the rights of workers.

jkaplowitz 8y ago
Google has never, as far as I know, required that work email systems be used for performance of job duties only. They certainly want work usage to be primary, and in some countries and circumstances they claim more rights to intellectual property created using work systems that they otherwise wouldn't claim, but they do allow incidental personal use. In my experience working there in the past (before these cultural issues became a main focus), it was a major perk to, for example, be discussing a news item about a quantum computing device on a suitably targeted mailing list and have someone with quantum physics expertise chime in. :) Also informal peer-to-peer financial planning advice and many other topics. Note I haven't worked for Google or Alphabet since early 2015 and certainly am not speaking for them here.
- chrismeller 8y ago
  And I’ve never worked for Google or Alphabet. The company has nothing to do with it, this is about a supposed moral issue that should (I hope) apply to every company, not just them.
  - jkaplowitz 8y ago
    Your initial argument in the post I was replying to seemed to be based on the assumption that Google forbade non-work use of work email; I was simply saying they don't, so the nuances around those bans don't apply. That's all I was addressing.

jkaplowitz 8y ago

Google has never, as far as I know, required that work email systems be used for performance of job duties only. They certainly want work usage to be primary, and in some countries and circumstances they claim more rights to intellectual property created using work systems that they otherwise wouldn't claim, but they do allow incidental personal use. In my experience working there in the past (before these cultural issues became a main focus), it was a major perk to, for example, be discussing a news item about a quantum computing device on a suitably targeted mailing list and have someone with quantum physics expertise chime in. :) Also informal peer-to-peer financial planning advice and many other topics. Note I haven't worked for Google or Alphabet since early 2015 and certainly am not speaking for them here.

chrismeller 8y ago
And I’ve never worked for Google or Alphabet. The company has nothing to do with it, this is about a supposed moral issue that should (I hope) apply to every company, not just them.
- jkaplowitz 8y ago
  Your initial argument in the post I was replying to seemed to be based on the assumption that Google forbade non-work use of work email; I was simply saying they don't, so the nuances around those bans don't apply. That's all I was addressing.