Activities which could result in direct costs may include downloading, printing, saving, archiving, chain letters, Internet bandwidth, etc. Personal use of e-mail is a privilege, not a right. As such, the privilege may be revoked at any time and for any reason. Abuse of the privilege may result in appropriate disciplinary action. Employees need to keep in mind that all e-mail can be recorded and stored along with the source and destination.
Employees have no right to privacy with regard to e-mail.
Management has the ability and right to view employees' e-mail. Recorded e-mail messages are the property of the agency and therefore the taxpayers of the State of Texas. Thus, they are subject to the requirements of the Texas Public Information Act and the laws applicable to State records retention. Employees should be aware that when sending an e-mail message of a personal nature, there is always the danger of the employees' words being interpreted as official agency policy or opinion. Racist, sexist, threatening, or otherwise objectionable language is strictly prohibited.