Companies take jokes very seriously, he warns. It's important to note that even if your managers say they're not watching, assume they are. In 1996, a Pennsylvania court dismissed a lawsuit filed against Pillsbury by Michael Smyth, a former operations manager. The company considered one message in reference to sales managers a threat. I actually think that management needs a thicker skin in such situations.
Electronic mail is a freeing-up communications medium.
People tend to say things they wouldn't ordinarily put into a memo or letter. They use off-handed comments without realizing they are creating a permanent record. Once a message goes out, hitting the delete key doesn't make it go away, Maatman warns. Many companies use forensic software that can retrieve deleted messages and monitor every keystroke. Employees should also be aware of the potential for human error.