Rate my Issue - 3 (out of 6)

Companies these days seem to give lot of emphasis on the privacy of their employees. There are always certain ethical and decorum issues which need to be considered before some one interferes in other person's life. I assert that privacy is certainly an important issue while at home or office and everyone needs to respect that. The above issue is a debatable one and we also cannot overlook the other viewpoint.
While on a job, an employee is supposed to put his heart and soul trying the grow the employers company. He does that faithfully and earnestly fulfilling his duties, in return of which if he relaxes to a certain degree by engaging in a private conversation or email i feel his or her privacy needs to be respected. Employers have certainly bought the time of their employees but not their life. As an individual, it is our duty to honor the private life of a peer or colleague. Privacy should not be threatened for the purpose of extracting information of an individual's life. Some details are family or personal related being confidential in nature and not subject to disclosure. A manager spying on his team members emails by hacking into his account for personal reasons is absolutely not justified. As long as an employee sincerely commits to his work and produces result, a company or organisation should not care to invade his life. Nevertheless, it becomes necessary in certain situations where the employee is not seeming interested in his or her work and this is hampering the growth of team or the firm's.
Financial companies, for example are very particular about every detail their employees mail or speak to each other as any piece of small and confidential information leaked can cause blunder on the wall street. Hence in these situations where it a matter of company's reputation it becomes very important that emails of employees be checked or scanned throughly. Phones may be tapped to hear someone not transmitting information outside the company walls. When i was interning at Goldman Sachs, every fax i made outside the company was there a copy being sent to the inspection and monitoring team. People found guilty could be fired for not adhering to company rules, regulations and code of conduct. Nowdays, lot of young generation families have started staying themselves alone because they demand privacy as some activities can be accomplished only with one's own peace of mind and freedom.
To conclude, privacy is definetely important in one's life whether at home or office. While arguments have to be made for both sides, its clear that no one enjoys a stranger invading their personal lives as long as that person is not a threat to that stranger. Circumstances will necessitate dealing with an individual's life. Respect for ones life is a good virtue and as good citizens we must honor it.