Xerox Corp. fired more than 40 employees for wasting up to eight hours a day on pornographic Web sites. Workers who are terminated for violating e-policies have little legal recourse. 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. Employees should also be aware of the potential for human error. Compose yourself before you compose your e-mail. More than 80 percent of companies that conduct electronic monitoring inform their employees of their policies, according to a 2000 survey by the American Management Association.