Privacy Protection in the Digital Workplace

• Author: Patrick Flaherty and Sarah Whitmore
• Pages: 9-23

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PrivacyProtection

intheDigitalWorkplace

Patrick Flaherty and Sarah Whitmore*

Weasasocietydonttoleratediscriminationintheworkplaceorharassment

Whywouldwetolerateinvasionofprivacy

Privacyhasbeen describedbyt heSupremeCourtofCan adaasanes-

sential component of what itmean s to be freeProtectionofanin-

dividualsright to privacy is predicated on the assumption that all

informationaboutapersonisinafundamenta lwayhisownforhimto

communicateorre tainTheimportanceofprivacyhasbeenacknow-

ledgedasa fundamentalhuma nrightbutju stasno otherrecogni zed

human rights or Charterr ightsareabsolute the rightto privacy must

also yield to competing rights in cer tain circumst ances In the work-

place the employers rights to monitor qualit y control and employee

productivityaswellastoensureasafeandharassmentfreeworkplace

 BothofTorysLLPTorontoPatr ickFlahertypract isescivillit igationandhasacted

ascounselinava rietyofmaersperta iningtoprivacyreputationa ndprotection

ofintangiblebusi nessassetsSara hWhitmoreisamemberoft heLitigationand

DisputeResolutionPract icewithmedialawandemploymentlawamongher

practicefocuse s

 AngelaZ boroskyPersonalInformationP rivacyandElectron icDocument

ActfromthePerspect iveofEmployeesandUnionsAddressdeliveredatthe

CanadianBarAs sociationMidwinterMee tingofCouncilW hitehorse

Februaryunpublishedat

 RvOConnor SCRatpa ra

 RvTesslingSCCatpara