In Utah, employers can legally read work-related emails on company-provided devices, networks, or accounts, as state law explicitly permits monitoring, accessing, or blocking electronic data stored on employer-supplied equipment or resources in accordance with federal and state regulations.​
Key Employer Permissions
Utah’s Internet Employment Privacy Act (Utah Code § 34-48-201 et seq.) allows employers to:
Require disclosure of usernames/passwords for employer-provided devices or business accounts.
Monitor communications to ensure compliance with laws, investigate misconduct, or prevent unauthorized transfer of proprietary data.
Screen employees/applicants or retain communications as required by federal law (e.g., ECPA) or for law enforcement purposes.
These rights apply without creating a duty for employers to monitor personal accounts, and no liability arises from not doing so.​
Employee Protections
Employers cannot request passwords for personal Internet accounts unrelated to work or penalize employees for refusing. Personal off-duty conduct and privacy are protected absent a legitimate business reason, but workplace emails on company systems lack strong privacy expectations. Recent amendments like H.B. 444 refine data privacy notices but do not alter core monitoring allowances.​
Federal Overlaps
The federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) supports employer monitoring of business systems if they are parties to the communication or have consent, tempered by state limits on personal intrusions. Utah aligns with this, prioritizing business needs over employee privacy on work tools.​
Utah balances employer operational needs with employee personal privacy by distinguishing work tools from private ones; review company policies for specifics.
SOURCES
[1](https://law.justia.com/codes/utah/title-34/chapter-48/part-2/section-202/)
[2](https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title34/Chapter48/C34-48-P2_1800010118000101.pdf)
[3](https://supersee.io/business/employee-monitoring-laws-2025/)
[4](https://parsonsbehle.com/images/pdfs/CMJEmployeeP.pdf)
[5](https://www.rippling.com/blog/employment-labor-law-in-utah)
