Legal Question in Employment Law in California

Is it legal for an employer to listen to a phone conversation between two employees? Our phone calls are recorded for compliance reasons when speaking with our customers, but to my knowledge, it's not legal to listen to personal calls once it's established as a personal call. Thank you!


Asked on 1/05/12, 2:03 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

The phones belong to the employer, and employees have no right or expectation of privacy. Employees are not 'legally' entitled to make personal calls or use company computers for personal reasons. If you do, there is no privacy, and you could be fired for doing so. It's up to the company.

Not only are there no laws against 'unfair treatment' or poor management, but in general, unless an employee is civil service, in a union, or has a written employment contract, they are an 'at will' employee that can be disciplined or fired any time for any reason, with or without �cause�, explanation or notice. Any employee's goal should be to keep their supervisors happy and make them look good to the company, and make the company money. That�s how the company pays employee wages. If you don't, then don't be surprised to be replaced.

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Answered on 1/05/12, 2:15 pm


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