If you use a computer at work, by now you should know that violating company e-mail policies can result in a reprimand if you’re lucky and job loss if you aren’t so lucky.
In Olympia, Wash., six employees of the state Department of Labor and Industries, which enforces employment standards, not only lost their jobs for passing excessive and sexually explicit messages at work, they were unlucky enough to be identified in a Seattle Times story detailing their alleged offenses.
Ouch!
The messages ranged from sexual banter and jokes to plans for a sex party, according to department officials.
Two other employees who were disciplined for e-mail use also were identified in the story. The agency is investigating at least 14 others for similar offenses. They have not been named–yet.
In private industry, personnel files are usually protected from the media’s prying eyes. But as a government employee, everything you do at work becomes public record, said Nancy Flynn, executive director of the e-Policy Institute in Columbus, Ohio.
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