How can I access my Hotmail account on my laptop?

My employer wants to access my hotmail account and personal laptop?

• My U.K employer has accused me of foul play and wants access to my hotmail account, by getting my written permission to contact hotmail for hotmail to hand over e-mai activity on certain days. Are they allowed to do this? what happens if i refuse? How long does this take? they also want to scan my personal laptop? I have done nothing wrong but they have already invaded my privcay by reading all my personal work emails, and photos and lync conversations and checked my work phone bill and txts. please advise as I have done nothing wrong, but have lots of private stuff

• Answer:

  Two arguments on this one - 1. Invasion of Privacy - it is your computer, your email account (personal), however all activity using work facilities (phone, email, etc.) ARE the intellectual property of the business you work for. OR 2. If you have nothing to hide then let them have a ball. Normally you would have to be charged with a fairly serious crime such as insider trading, fraud, espionage, threats to national security, drug-dealing, money laundering, etc. for the Police to even consider getting a Court Injuction to order you and Hotmail to release the information to support the company you work for. Remember that, as an employee, you have very specific rights about what can and cannot be done in the Place of Work - threats and harassment are viewed very dimly by Industrial Tribuals. I suggest that you start making a diary of everything that you feel concerns you about this accusation, make notes of times, conversation with whom, and, if you can, get copies of all emails. Keeping yourself armed with the facts about a baseless accusation is certainly better than having none, plus it looks better in Court. Good luck.