TSDE - Email Ethics
Vashon Lewis
Email
ETHICS
Using Email at Work
Touch Systems Data Entry
Objectives
You will explore ethical issues associated with the use of email at work.
Background
Many people use email regularly to communicate at work.
It is quick, easy, convenient and inexpensive.
As employees, we need to be aware, however, of the ethical issues surrounding our use of email at work.
Courts have supported the rights of employers to read employee email. People have been fired for emailing sensitive or untheical information, such as company secrets or offensive jokes. Even deleted emails can be retrieved from company backup systems. Do not put anything in an email that you would not want everyone in your company to see.
Step 1
Do not assume that email is private.
When you write email at work, you are writing on behalf of your company. The same ethical rules that apply to speaking or writing letters or memos at work apply to email as well.
Step 2
Do not put anything in an email that would embarass you or your company.
Check whether your employer has a policy on personal email. Often, occassional personal use is acceptable, but regular, excessive, or improper use is not.
Step 3
Do not use email for unacceptable private purposes.
Just don't do it.
It's illegal and immoral.
Step 4
Do not read other people's email.
One more tip...
Do not forward or quote email without permission from the original sender.
Activity
In small groups (2-3), discuss the following scenarios. Determine whether you think the employee's action is unetheical and if so, in what way?
PREPARE to defend your answer.
Scenario 1
Mark includes a joke about women in an e-mail to a friend at work. By mistake, he sends it to an entire mailing list (13
employees).
Scenario 2
Allen is angry about a change in company policy, so he sends an e-mail to everyone in the company complaining about
it.
Scenario 3
Jim e-mails his wife, who works constantly online, to let her know that there is a tornado watch for that afternoon.
Scenario 4
Alicia sends an e-mail to a friend describing a product her company is testing that might interest her friend.
Scenario 5
Kunio collects humorous stories and frequently sends them in e-mails to his friends.
Scenario 6
Terri e-mails a dozen co-workers asking for contributions to her son's school debate team.
Scenario 7
Roger is furious with the sales manager and sends her an angry e-mail.
Scenario 8
Guadalupe accidentally receives a copy of an e-mail from her supervisor to the company president. She reads it.
