There are a few inventions that can help here, namely the file folder, manila envelope, and desk drawer. If there are papers on your desk that your employees should not be reading, they should be put away when you meet with any members of your staff.
Independent of the notion of employees trying to read whatever is on your desk, it is also a good idea to meet with employees in front of your desk if you have room for a couple of chairs. By doing so, you remove an important physical barrier and actually set the stage for more open communications.
It is also important to consider the possibility that the employee in question is not trying to read what is on your desk at all. Some employees do not like a great deal of eye contact, often due to cultural factors, so they tend to look down. Other employees look down as a form of deference or even fear. It might be helpful to see if you can think of any problems on the job that may be causing this employee to keep looking down. Perhaps there is more to this situation than meets the eye.
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