The Institute of Management has warned that bosses who phone staff at home or vet employees' e-mails could face legal action. Even ringing an employee at home to discuss work matters could, under UK human rights legislation, be considered an invasion of privacy, the Institute of Management has said. "An employer does not have the right to demand an employee's telephone number, unless it is specified in the contract that the employee has a duty to be available outside normal working hours," the institute said. The IoM institute also warned that vetting e-mails and phone calls without authorisation, could be considered an invasion of privacy – even if the employee is using business facilities for personal use.

In October, legislation was introduced to allow companies tap phone calls or open e-mails sent by their employees. This was just three weeks after the Human Rights Act which may prevent snooping, came into force.
The institute warned that such snooping could represent a breach of the Human Rights Act, introduced just three weeks before.