no
Added: It depends. If the letter was addressed to the employee at his work address, AND included his work title (e.g.: Sales Director, or some title identifying him by his connection with the company), the employer COULD have the authority to open it.
On the other hand, if the envelope was simply addressed to him BY NAME ALONE, or the envelope was marked "personal," probably not.
However the employer COULD discipline him for receiving personal mail at work.
If they are acting within the scope of their employer-authorized capacity, AND one of their duties is opening the company mail, yes, they may. Exception: The above is true if the mail is clearly addressed to the BUSINESS itself. If the letter is clearly PERSONALLY addressed directly to the owner of the business, they would have over-stepped their employer-assigned bounds if they opened it, and even if no legal action was contemplated, they could be disciplined or terminated because of it.
Yes, if it is delievered to the work address . If you are not the persons boss, then i wouldn't open it.
If it was personal mail - addressed to you - and they failed to forward it to you - yes. If it was business correspondence simply addressed to you (by someone thinking you still worked there), no.
This can be a 'dicey' question. If the mail is addressed to that person via his former title or position, and can be identified as clearly coming from a current (or potential) business source, then it can be assumed that the mail is the property of the company.HOWEVER - if "personal" (i.e.: non-business) mail is addressed to the same individual, the employer has no LEGAL right to intercept or withold the mail. While the individual may have left themselves open to being disciplined by their employer for mis-using the resources of the company, under US Postal Regulations it is known as "Intercepting US Mail Belonging to Another" and it IS a federal offense.
Yes. All mail that is addressed to someone within the company, that was sent to the company address, can be withheld by the company. It's the companies' property.
Yes they canAnother View: The situation is not clear-cut. The employer may NOT open clearly personal mail addressed to an employee.However, if the mail is addressed to you BY YOUR TITLE OR POSITION within the company, they may open it.If the employer has a problem with the employee receiving personal mail at work, they may discipline them according to company policy, but they may NOT open, or withhold, that persons personal mail. That is a violation of federal law (US Postal Regulations - "Intercepting the US Mail Addressed To Another").
24 hours
Nope. Preventing mail from getting to the addressee is a federal offence - unless they are incarcerated.. Above is incorrect. Mail addressed to an employee at a place of business is the property of the business. The employee has no claim or right to it. The employer can do anything he wants with it. (And most companies have policies you agree to saying you wioll not use the company services for personal matters....and if you do, it is even possible to be charged with criminal theft of services). Even in a personal setting, US mail, while it is in the controll of the US postal service, which includes your mail box, has protection. However, after that, once you take it from the box and put it on your kitchen table, or if you allow someone else to retrieve it, it is no longer protected what happens to it happens to it.
The real question is; What are you doing with the mis-addressed mail? Especially if it's First Class Mail. If you know it is not addressed to anyone at your address, you should return it to the delivery employee or you could be considered to be "interecepting someone else's mail.'
No, it is illegal to open mail that is not addressed to you.
An employee of Hooters should get a W2 in the mail. Another way to get one is to have access online which is provided by the employer as well.
No, it is not legal to open mail that is addressed to your house if it is not intended for you.