Minnesota employers can generally read work emails sent or received on company systems, as these are considered business property under federal laws like the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and Stored Communications Act (SCA), with few Minnesota-specific restrictions.​
Employer Monitoring Rights
Employers monitor company-provided email, internet use, and devices for legitimate business purposes without prior notice, though policies often disclose this practice. Personal emails accessed via company tools lack strong protections unless they involve third-party servers, where SCA limits apply.​
Employee Privacy Limits
Minnesota law requires advance notice for monitoring calls or personal data if business-unrelated, but work accounts offer no expectation of privacy. Prohibitions exist against using surveillance for discrimination, union-busting, or illegal retaliation under NLRA or state rules.​
Cybersecurity Laws
The Minnesota Data Protection Act mandates breach notifications and reasonable security for personal data held by employers. No “right to disconnect” or off-hours email bans exist, leaving boundaries to company policy.​
SOURCES
[1](https://trepanierlaw.com/workplace-privacy-law-in-minnesota/)
[2](https://www.superlawyers.com/resources/employment-law-employee/can-my-employer-monitor-my-emails-and-internet-usage/)
[3](https://www.sivertsonbarrettelaw.com/2017/10/how-minnesota-views-your-right-to-privacy-in-the-workplace/)
[4](https://www.schaeferhalleen.com/10-myths-employers-workplace-rights/)
[5](https://mn.gov/admin/assets/Purchasing%20Policy%2013b_tcm36-578387.pdf)
