Email in the Workplace
In a recent poll of StealthMessage users, almost a half indicated that they used the system to communicate
from their workplace, either with co-workers, or with family and friends. This makes sense considering that
email is very much a public communication system. Your email messages can be read by systems administrators and computer
support personnel. Moreover, managers may ask to see records of messages for specific employees sent over a period of months
or years. There are numerous cases of individuals fired for using email for personal reasons, or for communicating information
or opinions that their employers didn't approve of. But using standard email to communicate sensitive information can be just as
problematic for managers. For example, an email message about a human resource matter such as a firing or disciplinary action could easily
be intercepted by technical staff, or inadvertently forwarded or left in a printer.
The following articles point to the importance of using a service like StealthMessage for your most private and confidential messages:
Computers and Email on the Job: They're Watching You
An article that warns against using standard workplace email for personal communications.
How Can They Fire My Co-Worker for Sending Innocent Emails?
An employee is fired for sending sexual jokes to another, and another employee is warned to not use email to "vent" about her bosses.
Offensive E-Mail Can Get Workers Fired, Court Says
The Utah Court of Appeals rules that employees can be fired for sending sexually explicit and offensive e-mails on the job even if their employer has not warned them against such behavior.
23 Sacked for Email Abuse
The New York Times fired 23 employees for sending rude emails about the boss, and a legal expert warns of more to follow
Email Privacy at the Workplace, a Grand Illusion
A well-written and brief paper that addresses the complex balance between employee privacy rights and the rights of employers.
Reporter fired for sending email...
Los Angeles Times sportswriter Brian Robin sent a letter of complaint to to Congressman Bill Thomas, and made the mistake of using
his company's email account. He was fired as a result.
Please send us your story of how you use StealthMessage so we can share it with other users -- anonymously of course!
Send stories to: stealth@meetingwizard.com
