'It's not normal': Boss looks through employee's emails while he was on vacation, marks them unread to cover his tracks

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jul 15, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Privacy at work is an interesting concept. Obviously, you're entitled to a certain amount of it no matter what. You don't sign away all your rights when you sign up for a new job. But you also have to learn the new rules around privacy concerning your job. If you work for someone else, they have a right to know what exactly you're doing for them/under their name. But you also don't want your employees to feel like they're living in a surveillance state. So this can turn into a tricky situation to navigate for employers and employees alike. 

But the important thing is to maintain clear rules and boundaries. You wouldn't want to fall into a situation where you're hiding things from each other. As the old saying goes, "secrets secrets are no fun, secrets secrets hurt someone." This is true, even in the workplace. 

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  • 01

    Is it normal for your boss to look through your email on your day off then mark them all as unread?

    I took a day off last Wednesday because my dad needed me to help him with something and I also had some other things I wanted to take care of (including sending out resumes to a few job postings). But, I still periodically checked my email on my phone and computer just in case anything urgent came in.
    via u/reedshipper
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10529912832
    via Varun Gaba

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • That's what happened in this story, where an employer might have crossed a line in terms of privacy. When an employee was away for one day, they came back to find that their email had been tampered with. But they couldn't have expected that the call was indeed coming from inside the office. So they turned to the internet for help. 

  • 03
    When I logged into my email for the first time around 10am, I noticed that 4 of the 5 emails waiting in my inbox had been opened, and 1 of the emails had been forwarded. But in my outgoing email tab, there was nothing to show what email address the email had been forwarded to, meaning whoever forwarded it deleted the evidence right after sending it.
    via u/reedshipper
  • 04
    When I logged back into my email around 1pm, I noticed that all of the emails had been marked as unread to make it seem as though no one had touched my account. I asked my coworker the next day if she or one of my other coworkers had touched it, because if that was the case it would be ok with me since we are all on the same team. She said neither of them touched it meaning the boss was the one who did.
    via u/reedshipper
  • 05
    I already wasn't crazy about this guy, but now I'm having even worse thoughts about him. He's new he started in January, and something about him just seems very sketch to me. Am I overreacting or is this odd.
    via u/reedshipper
  • 06
    Edit: Forgot to include that the computers are not able to be locked. When he took over the new boss brought in all new computers and had the IT Dept program them so we could not lock them at all. He also can gain access to anyone's email at any time in his office by requesting access to the account via the IT Dept. I've seen him do it before which I figure is how get accessed mine.
    via u/reedshipper
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10529912576
    via Kenny Eliason

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 08

    Commenters had conflicting opinions about whether or not this was normal.

    Judge Joan 1h ago That's not normal in my company and they would be investigated for how they got access.
    via u/JudgeJoan
  • 09
    reedshipper OP • 1h ago Sorry forgot to mention that my computer is always open because this boss had the IT dept make it so that no one can lock their computers. But even so he can request access to anyone's email at any time from the IT dept as well.
    via u/reedshipper
  • 10
    Familiar-Range9014 · 1h ago . Company computer means your manager or supervisor has the right to access.
    via u/Familiar-Range9014
  • 11
    snoughman • 1h ago . Totally normal. Company email is company property and often times your higher- ups will have access.
    via u/snoughman
  • 12
    Apprehensive-Ad-3... 1h ago That's not normal, and potentially breaking some privacy rules. Not your personal privacy, but access. privacy.
    via u/Apprehensive-Ad-3552
  • 13
    I would contact your IT (or HR) department with a "concern" of what you noticed. Do not blame anyone or even mention your suspicions, but more of a "this happened and I'm worried someone has my password. I'll change my password, but I wanted you to know. What are my next steps to ensure this doesn't happen again"
    via u/Apprehensive-Ad-3552
  • 14
    lucky_2_shoes 1h ago . I wouldn't mind if my assistant manager went in and read emails and than marked em unread to make sure i dont miss any. Im guessing thats why they marked em that way, so u would know to read them still.. if it's the company email acct, than i dont see a issue
    via u/lucky_2_shoes
  • 15
    VFTM 1h ago You took a day off, but were still checking your email???????????
    via u/VFTM
  • 16
    d4sbwitu 1h ago It's not normal. I worked for a company that did it. Very toxic workplace. I suggest you get out.
    via u/d4sbwitu
  • 17
    Hour-Database-16... 41m ago Definitely not normal.
    via u/Hour-Database-1623
  • 18
    False-Pilot-7233 40m ago If your IT department is that wide open to allow it, I'd be looking elsewhere for a position.
    via u/False-Pilot-7233
  • 19
    rocket_racoon180 37m ago • Hi OP. In all honestly, I'd be finding a way to find some other work. I know the job market is extremely hard right now, but with the way things are managed at your job, it feels like everything is a walking, breathing liability. All I can say is CYA all the way, however you can
    via u/rocket_racoon180
  • 20
    Alibeee64 35m ago . That seems like a lot of micromanagement on your boss's part. Does he actually do any work of his own?
    via u/Alibeee64
  • 21
    ReturnAccomplish... • 28m ago No. Thats not normal. Also a security concern as your boss could easily blackmail you or any other employee with "illicit documents found on your PC" or just sending an email to the company owner in your name calling them a v ··---rag. '-stained-
    via u/ReturnAccomplished22
  • 22
    Thin_Rip8995 · 24m ago • not overreacting-this is wildly invasive boss reading your emails on your day off, covering tracks. by marking unread, and forwarding without trace? sketch on steroids this isn't "just new boss energy" this is a power move to micromanage and intimidate
    via u/Thin_Rip8995
  • 23
    and those no-lock computers? blatant control play they're treating you like. property, not a person document everything start looking for a way out no job is worth this level of disrespect
    via u/Thin_Rip8995
  • 24
    RaYa_20.3m ago Report to HR and IT- Department if you have proof of forwarded and deleted mail from your send folder. Also with a non locked computer someone or your boss could send some sketchy messages to get you fired.
    via u/RaYa_20

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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