Employee monitoring laws in Brazil - 12 frequently asked questions:
1. Is employee monitoring legal in Brazil? 2. Is it legal to monitor company’s computers? 3. Is it legal to monitor employee internet and social media activities? 4. Is it legal to monitor screen contents and keystrokes? 5. Is it legal to monitor email content? 6. Is it legal to monitor or record phone conversations? 7. Is it legal to use video monitoring systems in the workplace? 8. Is it legal to monitor private messages and email content? 9. Is it legal to monitor employees' personal devices? 10. Is it legal to monitor employees' personal computers? 11. Is it required to inform employees of the monitoring? 12. Employee monitoring policy - mandatory or not? And some bonus info!1. Is employee monitoring legal in Brazil?
Yes. The company has the right to monitor the daily work activities of its employees. That said, this practice should be done without infringing employee privacy or violating any Brazil employee monitoring laws. The right to monitor is backed by Article 5 of Brazil's federal constitution, which provides the right to compensation for property or moral damages or damages to the image.2. Is it legal to monitor company's computers?
Yes. If the device belongs to the company, the owners (employers) can monitor employees to ensure no misuse. Employers also have the right to ensure that their employees do not use computers to access sites unrelated to work. However, prior knowledge of the monitoring is essential. According to the LGPD (the local data protection law), employees should be expressly notified and informed that there will be control over computer use.3. Is it legal to monitor employee internet and social media activities?
Yes. The answer is similar to the previous question. In most instances, the employer has the right to ensure that employees use the Internet they have provided for work-related purposes during paid hours. Employers can monitor internet activities such as websites visited, time spent online during working hours, and even limit visits to specific sites. As far as monitoring social media activities is concerned, Brazil employee monitoring laws are yet to regulate companies' social media monitoring. Still, employees should understand that they must comply if company policies prohibit social media use during working hours.4. Is it legal to monitor screen contents and keystrokes?
Yes. Employers can use tools that monitor screen contents and keystrokes on a work computer. A general guideline is that employees should note is that every activity carried out on a work computer can be accessed by their employer, mostly where clear and documented policies have been communicated.5. Is it legal to monitor email content?
Yes, if this is a company corporate email account, they are obligated to prohibit the use of corporate emails for personal use. Before doing so, the company must clearly inform its employees about the monitoring of the email. Brazil employee monitoring laws oblige the employers to do so. In other words, clear policies that indicate that corporate emails are solely for professional use should be provided. This will enable the employer to take appropriate actions against its employees if corporate emails are used for purposes other than corporate use.6. Is it legal to monitor or record phone conversations?
Yes. For example, Brazil's laws allow some sectors, call center companies, to monitor or record phone conversations with customers as a regulatory requirement to support fair treatment of customers and good conduct. This is also supported by Decree No. 6,523 of July 31, 2008, which requires these services to record their calls. However, in a conventional office, this could be a bit controversial. Listening to conversations without the employee's awareness could breach confidentiality in item XII of Article 5 of the Federal Constitution. The same applies to the personal data sharing rules. Even the government efforts to make telecommunication operators provide the list of names, addresses and phone numbers of their customers were not successful. In April 2020, the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil suspended the Provisional Measure, as it violated the basic human rights for privacy. Brazil employee monitoring laws request companies to ensure that the monitoring process does not infringe on the fundamental right of the employee.7. Is it legal to use video monitoring systems in the workplace?
Yes. In Brazil, video surveillance systems in the workplace are common practice. Some employees use video monitoring systems for legitimate business purposes. However, limitations laid down in the constitution must be respected. Installing video monitoring systems in environments that invade employee's privacy may lead to the violation of Item X of Article 5 of Brazil's Federal Constitution. This law states that every individual has the right to privacy, private life, honor, and image are inviolable, and the right to compensation for property or moral damages where such infringement is committed. Brazil employee monitoring laws imply certain precautions should be taken when installing a video monitoring system:8. Is it legal to monitor private messages and email content?
Yes. As long as the company has clear policies prohibiting sending and receiving private messages and emails on company devices during and after working hours. In that case, it is justified to monitor activities such as sending or receiving private messages or emails. Brazil employee monitoring laws allow it. Again the Keyword here is well-defined policies. Monitoring without ensuring that the employee has been adequately notified could lead to large damages payments.9. Is it legal to monitor employees' personal devices?
Yes. It is worth noting that if work activities are performed on a personal device, the employee is accountable to the employer during designated working hours. The employer can restrict use during working hours if they wish to. If the employer does this type of monitoring, transparency is required, and measures should be taken to ensure that they do not interfere with their privacy. Brazil laws require the employer to properly inform the employee of what information they intend to collect and how they intend to use it.10. Is it legal to monitor employees' personal computers?
Yes, The answer is similar to the one above. The practice became possible and smooth after the regulation 13874/2019 came into force. It was called an "Economic Freedom Law", reducing the level of bureaucracy in Brazil. Since its enactment, the company managers can negotiate their working hours and conditions directly with the employees. They are entitled to sign individual agreements with every given worker (instead of collective agreements). However, small companies with less than 20 employees are free to imply working time monitoring or avoid it. If the employee performs work duties on a personal computer, monitoring such devices may serve a legitimate interest in protecting business information. However, it is considered unlawful if such monitoring also captures data relating to the employee's private life. Appropriate measures should be taken to distinguish between personal and business use of the device, and policies should be created and communicated to the employees.11. Is it required to inform employees of the monitoring?
Yes. Under Brazilian laws, prior notice of the monitoring is fundamental. Companies are required to inform their employees and discuss any monitoring process issues before monitoring. Employees must be aware of the monitoring, the purposes for which personal data are to be collected, and any other information necessary to ensure fair processing.12. Employee monitoring policy - mandatory or not?
Yes. Companies must create appropriate documentation such as monitoring policies, handbooks, e.t.c that lay down clear rules for company property use. The data obtained through the monitoring tools must also be relevant, necessary, not excessive, and comply with the data protection standards. With a comprehensive and easily accessible workplace monitoring policy, employees will be aware of the monitoring. Following the Brazil employee monitoring laws, all these must be included in the policies:Our monitoring experts have developed ready-to-use policies, announcement samples, and employee monitoring handbooks for direct use or a sample to create future employee monitoring policies. Request a copy now. It's free!