Q&A: Do employers have the right to monitor the devices of employees who are working remotely?
Published on: 16/04/2026
Article Authors The main content of this article was provided by the following authors.
Madison Bowyer Associate in the Employment Law Group of Arthur Cox NI

Stay ahead of the curve with our exclusive Q&A series, brought to you by leading law firm, Arthur Cox, LLP, designed to answer your most pressing legal questions. These expert insights provide clear guidance to ensure your HR practices remain compliant and protect your organisation.  

This month's question:

Do employers have the right to monitor the devices of employees who are working remotely? 

The growth of remote working has led many organisations to introduce digital monitoring tools to supervise employees outside the traditional ‘in-person’ workplace. Employers do have a legal right to monitor work-related activity carried out on devices used for employment purposes, but this right is carefully constrained by data protection laws.  

Employers commonly monitor activity for legitimate operational

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Disclaimer The information in this article is provided as part of Legal Island's Employment Law Hub. We regret we are not able to respond to requests for specific legal or HR queries and recommend that professional advice is obtained before relying on information supplied anywhere within this article. This article is correct at 16/04/2026