Any code of practice should encourage responsible behaviour, good management practice and safeguard worker privacy. 

The Trade Unions’ Congress (TUC) suggests the following should be included in any code of practice : 

Users should be warned that e-mail and internet may be electronically scanned for obscene, indecent, racist or illegal comments. 

Bosses should allow for the occasional and reasonable personal use of e-mail and the internet. This is only so long as it does not interfere with an employee’s work. 

Bosses should give assurances that e-mails between union representatives and union members will not be monitored or read by managers. These messages should be clearly marked as such. 

Employers should remind their staff that their e-mails may be checked by others at work if they are unexpectedly away from the office, or have failed to leave any forwarding arrangements.