Yes, employees are still struggling to understand what's proper and what isn't when it comes to electronic communication in the workplace. E-mail chain letters, unseemly Web surfing, and offensive Net newsgroup postings have all led to lawsuits against such big players as Morgan Stanley and Citicorp.
Employees sitting in their office believe they're sending private messages to friends.
What employees should realize is that anything they put into an E-mail could be available to the world. That informality, adds Delaney, is making companies increasingly vulnerable to lawsuits, especially as a now-predictable stream of bawdy jokes and office gossip continues its sweep through the workplace. Whether your company has such a policy or not, you may still be reprimanded, lose your job, or get personally sued for your online activities. Why specific policies will vary company to company, here are some general points to keep in mind as you tune in and turn on to cyberspace. Nothing Is Private Your company owns the pens in the supply cabinet, the chair you sit on, and, of course, the computer you use every day.