At worst, termination. This has happened before. When you sign an employment contract, you commit to fulfilling your duties faithfully. Using company equipment for personal use exceeds your job scope. Most employers issue a warning before dismissal for minor, non-repeated offenses. Borrowing a pen occasionally is typically overlooked, but regularly depleting supplies or printing a 100-page personal document crosses the line. The threshold is subjective, hinging on company policy and judicial assessment.
Yes. Employers provide these tools and can track their use. Usage is fully traceable: web pages viewed, prints made, calls to premium lines, and more. Cameras may be installed near supply areas (if disclosed), but personal searches require consent.
Insights from Emmanuel Walle, lawyer and director of the digital social department at Alain Bensoussan Avocats.
