Ethics Assignment #2: Forwarding Your Email

Ok, so imagine this: I am at work. I have two employees that I work with-Adam, who's pretty nice and hardworking, and Amy, who is snarky and has the worst fashion sense EVER. And she thinks she's a know-it-all, too, from her last email she sent Adam and me regarding the project we're working on. I find some grammatical errors in it, and gleefully send a reply to Adam-"Seems like she writes like she dresses-with little thought and a lot of mistakes!" I'm quite proud of my quip until Amy comes to my office, furious, holding a piece of paper. Uh oh. Looks like when I pressed the "reply" button, Amy was informed just what I thought of her fashion sense and English skills.

Email at work poses new challenges, both through job-related experiences and personal experiences and thoughts. Information you carelessly typed or forwarded something that was supposed to be kept secret can reach the whole office before lunchtime if one isn't prudent.

My dad always used to say, "Always be careful of what you put into writing." And over the years, it seems to make more and more sense. This adage can be applied to both the employee and the client. As a client, would you want to put sensitive information, like a social security number or bank account information, into an email? As the employer, you have to consider-will my client appreciate the fact that ten other people are going to view this email?

Both the client and employee can solve this problem by communication. The client may ask to keep sensitive information private, or the employee can provide a disclaimer, letting the client know that some sensitive information may be viewed by others.

As for the scenario I used in my introduction, the same maxim applies-be careful of what you put in writing! All employees should be prudent. The email has become the equivalent of watercooler discussions, with much more hurtful impacts. It's one thing to deny you ever said your boss looks fat, but it's quite another to have it in writing. As an employee, you should conduct yourself with professionalism, and think-if I send this off, will I be able to defend what I'm writing later?