The issue of privacy is a major concern in the workplace. With the expansion of new technologies, many employees are concerned about their privacy in the workplace. Employees have the right to go to work knowing that their employer will not invade their privacy. Workplace privacy rights provide only limited protection to workers against monitoring and breaches of privacy. The National Work Rights Institute says, under federal law, “the limited protection that the Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986 provides to employees has been diminished because the rule is outdated.” Electronic monitoring has seen tremendous growth in the workplace over the past 10 years. The National Work Rights Institute states: "Before 1980, electronic monitoring was virtually unknown. Electronic monitoring was introduced into the workplace in the twentieth century for the use of bathroom breaks and for measuring hand-eye movements." Employers now use monitoring to listen to phone calls and computer monitoring, such as email and Internet use. While this monitoring is now important in the workplace, it is very invasive for employees, because an employer can monitor an employee's activity in the workplace without their knowledge. The National Work Rights Institute, under Federal Law ¶1 states, "the only federal legislation relevant to protecting employee privacy is the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Street Act of 1968 as amended by the Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986 ". The law aims to protect employees from illegal monitoring. Although monitoring has been around for many years, employees believe it poses a greater threat to their privacy in the workplace. Even if it's under... half of the paper...... action. (2005, March 07). Patient confidentiality. Retrieved September 28, 2006, from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/4610.htmlMartucci, C.W., & Place, M.J. (Summer 1998). Right to privacy and communication of employees in the workplace. Labor Relations Today (Wiley), 25 (2), 12, 109-120. Retrieved September 22, 2006, from the EBSCOhostMicrosoft Office Online database.(2006). Manage confidentiality in the workplace. Retrieved October 3, 2006, from http://office..microsoft.com/en_us/fx011454411033.aspxPrivacy Rights Clearinghouse. (2006, February). Employee Monitoring: Does Workplace Privacy Exist? Retrieved September 22, 2006, from http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs7-work.htmThe National Workrights Institute. Electronic monitoring in the workplace. Retrieved September 29, 2006, from http://www.workrights.org/issue_electronic/em_legislative_brief.html