Workplace bullying - a new diamension?

E-mail harbours bullies
Employment expert Croner is advising businesses to tighten up on e-mail monitoring policies.

Condoning, Big Brother tactics Croner warns that e-mail is being silently used by employees to bully, harass and air prejudices against colleagues.

It is estimated that at least 35% of all outbound office emails are unrelated to work, with almost half of employees admitting to using internal email for personal reasons.

Richard Smith, HR expert at Croner, says: "In the past a controversial opinion might have been inappropriately voiced between colleagues over a drink in the pub, nowadays employees are also making these exchanges using office email. But whereas verbal harassment is difficult to prove, convicting email evidence could be sitting in a recipient's inbox, creating serious legal issues for the company.

"Employers can't afford to be blasé and are best advised to adopt a more watchful 'Big Brother' attitude over emails sent using their network."

Croner warns that even ‘harmless’ jokes between colleagues can be construed as offensive if accidentally discovered by an innocent party.

Smith adds: "A sensible employer needn't take email observance to the extreme, but should be taking email conduct very seriously and may think about looking into an email monitoring system which will alert them to potential bullying, harassment, discrimination or slander