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sometimesmommy
Always in my heart.....
Member since 11/06 6686 total posts
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Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
I need info-
My friend works at a pretty big company. He got an email that one of our circle innocently forwared to us. It was two little asian kids kissing (hard core making out (no nudity) and the topic was "What would you do if you walked up on this? This is crazy-I am speechless-as the title.
Well he opened it at work and his coworker saw it and reported it to HR. They called him into the office and said they got a complaint that he was looking at child porno.
I am like: ARE YOU SERIOUS.
He said he deleted it and didnt forward it but they told him they are going to look into the matter and deal with him accordingly..
He is so scared they are going to fire him..
Can they??? How the heck does anyone know what an email content is unless they open it???
Any advice????
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Posted 2/25/08 12:37 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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bicosi
life is a carousel
Member since 7/07 14956 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
This is exactly why none of my friends or family have my work email address.
I know of alot of companies with zero tolerance for those kind of emails.
I'm so sorry.
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| Posted 2/25/08 12:41 PM |
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jxnoscar
Baby Delicious!
Member since 8/06 4156 total posts
Name:
Nancy
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by bicosi
This is exactly why none of my friends or family have my work email address.
I know of alot of companies with zero tolerance for those kind of emails.
I'm so sorry.
yeah same here. unfortunately in the corp world you are responsible not only for what you send out but what you recieve as well
Good luck to your friend
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| Posted 2/25/08 12:43 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Since it offended the co-worker it is a form of sexual harrassment and it needs to be handled properly/formerly. Since it was sent to him and he didn't forward it, I would be surprised if he was fired.
Did the email come from friend or business assoiciate? That might violate company policy.
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| Posted 2/25/08 12:43 PM |
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sometimesmommy
Always in my heart.....
Member since 11/06 6686 total posts
Name:
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by Christine
Since it offended the co-worker it is a form of sexual harrassment and it needs to be handled properly/formerly. Since it was sent to him and he didn't forward it, I would be surprised if he was fired.
Did the email come from friend or business assoiciate? That might violate company policy.
It was sent by someone outside the company.
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| Posted 2/25/08 12:44 PM |
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MrsPJB2007
MBA at your service!
Member since 7/06 12020 total posts
Name:
MJ
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
unfortunately the company can read every single email that is sent on their server--which is why people are told over and over again that what you do at work can haunt you.
i hope your friend can talk to HR and explain that he opened it and didn't realize what it was and deleted it immediately and that they can understand and let them off with a warning.
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| Posted 2/25/08 12:46 PM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by Christine
Since it offended the co-worker it is a form of sexual harrassment and it needs to be handled properly/formerly. Since it was sent to him and he didn't forward it, I would be surprised if he was fired.
Did the email come from friend or business assoiciate? That might violate company policy.
Definitely falls under the sexual harassment laws. I just took a managers seminar about sexual harassment and I learned all about this.
If he received it from the outside, and he instantly deleted it then it shouldn't be that big of a deal. But he can still get written up for it since the other worker saw it.
If I was the guy, I could claim that I didn't know what it was and demand that their IT department trace the email which can prove he never asked for the pic.
But if he received the email from another employee, then that employee who sent the email can get screwed bigtime if the company finds out. If you email a co-worker an offending picture, that's considered sexual harassment whether or not that co-worker considered it a joke or not.
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| Posted 2/25/08 12:48 PM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
most of the companies that I have worked for have a ZERO tolerance policy for offensive emails.
whether you received it, forwarded it or sent it...you are responsible for what you have in your email acct.
a friend of mine got a very offensive email from a "friend", opened it, but deleted it....IT was doing a scan of the system and the email came up. He lost his bonus for the year and went on probation for 3 months...it was bad!!!
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| Posted 2/25/08 12:49 PM |
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sometimesmommy
Always in my heart.....
Member since 11/06 6686 total posts
Name:
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by Lisa
most of the companies that I have worked for have a ZERO tolerance policy for offensive emails.
whether you received it, forwarded it or sent it...you are responsible for what you have in your email acct.
a friend of mine got a very offensive email from a "friend", opened it, but deleted it....IT was doing a scan of the system and the email came up. He lost his bonus for the year and went on probation for 3 months...it was bad!!!
I guess I can understand porn but this was not porn. It was an email showing two kids kissing the way parents would--no groping etc but what was disturbing was that it was kids and the email was bashing letting kids do this in public. I showed it to our IT and he explained that it was mild. I guess when I think of "porn" I think of something else 
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| Posted 2/25/08 1:02 PM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by sometimesmommy
Posted by Lisa
most of the companies that I have worked for have a ZERO tolerance policy for offensive emails.
whether you received it, forwarded it or sent it...you are responsible for what you have in your email acct.
a friend of mine got a very offensive email from a "friend", opened it, but deleted it....IT was doing a scan of the system and the email came up. He lost his bonus for the year and went on probation for 3 months...it was bad!!!
I guess I can understand porn but this was not porn. It was an email showing two kids kissing the way parents would--no groping etc but what was disturbing was that it was kids and the email was bashing letting kids do this in public. I showed it to our IT and he explained that it was mild. I guess when I think of "porn" I think of something else
well unfortunatly the person that reported it to HR, thought differently about it and thought it was child porn.
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| Posted 2/25/08 1:04 PM |
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sometimesmommy
Always in my heart.....
Member since 11/06 6686 total posts
Name:
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
I know that the woman may have thought differently. I hopeful that his HR has half a brain and look at the context of the email.
I think this is why HR gets such a bad rap sometiems.
Message edited 2/25/2008 1:09:58 PM.
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| Posted 2/25/08 1:09 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by Lisa
most of the companies that I have worked for have a ZERO tolerance policy for offensive emails.
whether you received it, forwarded it or sent it...you are responsible for what you have in your email acct.
a friend of mine got a very offensive email from a "friend", opened it, but deleted it....IT was doing a scan of the system and the email came up. He lost his bonus for the year and went on probation for 3 months...it was bad!!!
So, if a virus sends an email to every person in a company, the entire company could be fired, including the CEO?
There really should be some way of fighting something like that.
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| Posted 2/25/08 3:47 PM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Lisa
most of the companies that I have worked for have a ZERO tolerance policy for offensive emails.
whether you received it, forwarded it or sent it...you are responsible for what you have in your email acct.
a friend of mine got a very offensive email from a "friend", opened it, but deleted it....IT was doing a scan of the system and the email came up. He lost his bonus for the year and went on probation for 3 months...it was bad!!!
So, if a virus sends an email to every person in a company, the entire company could be fired, including the CEO?
There really should be some way of fighting something like that.
Did I say a virus?????????? I said offensive pictures, or jokes...,
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| Posted 2/25/08 3:48 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by Lisa
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Lisa
most of the companies that I have worked for have a ZERO tolerance policy for offensive emails.
whether you received it, forwarded it or sent it...you are responsible for what you have in your email acct.
a friend of mine got a very offensive email from a "friend", opened it, but deleted it....IT was doing a scan of the system and the email came up. He lost his bonus for the year and went on probation for 3 months...it was bad!!!
So, if a virus sends an email to every person in a company, the entire company could be fired, including the CEO?
There really should be some way of fighting something like that.
Did I say a virus?????????? I said offensive pictures, or jokes...,
A virus that sends emails. Fairly common. All you would need is for that virus to send an offensive email. Fairly easy to do, and has probably been done numerous times.
If you don't like the virus angle, how about a disgruntled ex-employee, or someone with a grudge against a company. They could email an offensive image to every person in a company, and everyone who opens it, or even has it in their inbox (which would be everyone), would get in trouble.
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| Posted 2/25/08 3:57 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by ave1024
Posted by Christine
Since it offended the co-worker it is a form of sexual harrassment and it needs to be handled properly/formerly. Since it was sent to him and he didn't forward it, I would be surprised if he was fired.
Did the email come from friend or business assoiciate? That might violate company policy.
Definitely falls under the sexual harassment laws. I just took a managers seminar about sexual harassment and I learned all about this.
If he received it from the outside, and he instantly deleted it then it shouldn't be that big of a deal. But he can still get written up for it since the other worker saw it.
If I was the guy, I could claim that I didn't know what it was and demand that their IT department trace the email which can prove he never asked for the pic.
But if he received the email from another employee, then that employee who sent the email can get screwed bigtime if the company finds out. If you email a co-worker an offending picture, that's considered sexual harassment whether or not that co-worker considered it a joke or not.
If the employee opened an e-mail, which was offensive, and another co-worker happened to pass by and see it on the computer, I don't think that would constitute sexual harassment.
The company should have some type of written computer/user agreement policy detailing what is acceptable/unacceptable and disciplinary action that the employer may take if an employee violates the policy.
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| Posted 2/25/08 4:08 PM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Lisa
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Lisa
most of the companies that I have worked for have a ZERO tolerance policy for offensive emails.
whether you received it, forwarded it or sent it...you are responsible for what you have in your email acct.
a friend of mine got a very offensive email from a "friend", opened it, but deleted it....IT was doing a scan of the system and the email came up. He lost his bonus for the year and went on probation for 3 months...it was bad!!!
So, if a virus sends an email to every person in a company, the entire company could be fired, including the CEO?
There really should be some way of fighting something like that.
Did I say a virus?????????? I said offensive pictures, or jokes...,
A virus that sends emails. Fairly common. All you would need is for that virus to send an offensive email. Fairly easy to do, and has probably been done numerous times.
If you don't like the virus angle, how about a disgruntled ex-employee, or someone with a grudge against a company. They could email an offensive image to every person in a company, and everyone who opens it, or even has it in their inbox (which would be everyone), would get in trouble.
I dont know what to tell you...that is MY companys policy....so if you dont like it...dont work here....
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| Posted 2/25/08 4:15 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by GoldenRod
A virus that sends emails. Fairly common. All you would need is for that virus to send an offensive email. Fairly easy to do, and has probably been done numerous times.
If you don't like the virus angle, how about a disgruntled ex-employee, or someone with a grudge against a company. They could email an offensive image to every person in a company, and everyone who opens it, or even has it in their inbox (which would be everyone), would get in trouble.
I think most companies explicitly reserve the right to exercise discretion when disciplining employees. In that situation, I doubt anyone who received the e-mail would get in trouble.
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| Posted 2/25/08 4:19 PM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by MrsS2005
Posted by GoldenRod
A virus that sends emails. Fairly common. All you would need is for that virus to send an offensive email. Fairly easy to do, and has probably been done numerous times.
If you don't like the virus angle, how about a disgruntled ex-employee, or someone with a grudge against a company. They could email an offensive image to every person in a company, and everyone who opens it, or even has it in their inbox (which would be everyone), would get in trouble.
I think most companies explicitly reserve the right to exercise discretion when disciplining employees. In that situation, I doubt anyone who received the e-mail would get in trouble.
exactly.....
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| Posted 2/25/08 4:20 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by MrsS2005
If the employee opened an e-mail, which was offensive, and another co-worker happened to pass by and see it on the computer, I don't think that would constitute sexual harassment.
The company should have some type of written computer/user agreement policy detailing what is acceptable/unacceptable and disciplinary action that the employer may take if an employee violates the policy.
According to my company's lawyers, this does constitute a form of sexual harrassment. It doesn't mean the person opening the email is "guilty" of it, but any employee made to feel uncomfortable by anything of a sexual nature falls in this category.
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| Posted 2/25/08 4:22 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by Christine
Posted by MrsS2005
If the employee opened an e-mail, which was offensive, and another co-worker happened to pass by and see it on the computer, I don't think that would constitute sexual harassment.
The company should have some type of written computer/user agreement policy detailing what is acceptable/unacceptable and disciplinary action that the employer may take if an employee violates the policy.
According to my company's lawyers, this does constitute a form of sexual harrassment. It doesn't mean the person opening the email is "guilty" of it, but any employee made to feel uncomfortable by anything of a sexual nature falls in this category.
If this were part of a repeated pattern of inappropriate behavior, I'd agree that it could be considered sexual harassment. However, this incident, standing alone, would not be enough to constitute sexual harassment. I can see why a company may define it that way to cover their a$$, but an employee would have an extremely difficult time prevailaing on a sexual harassment claim if this was the only incident that took place.
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| Posted 2/25/08 4:44 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by MrsS2005
Posted by Christine
Posted by MrsS2005
If the employee opened an e-mail, which was offensive, and another co-worker happened to pass by and see it on the computer, I don't think that would constitute sexual harassment.
The company should have some type of written computer/user agreement policy detailing what is acceptable/unacceptable and disciplinary action that the employer may take if an employee violates the policy.
According to my company's lawyers, this does constitute a form of sexual harrassment. It doesn't mean the person opening the email is "guilty" of it, but any employee made to feel uncomfortable by anything of a sexual nature falls in this category.
If this were part of a repeated pattern of inappropriate behavior, I'd agree that it could be considered sexual harassment. However, this incident, standing alone, would not be enough to constitute sexual harassment. I can see why a company may define it that way to cover their a$$, but an employee would have an extremely difficult time prevailaing on a sexual harassment claim if this was the only incident that took place.
I agree which is why I said I didn't think this person would be terminated over this incident.
I can understand a company defining it so broadly so people that are truly offensive are disciplined and people that are truly offended have a forum to make a complaint - a lot of what falls under the catergory of sexual harrassment is subjective.
Message edited 2/25/2008 4:51:29 PM.
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| Posted 2/25/08 4:50 PM |
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sometimesmommy
Always in my heart.....
Member since 11/06 6686 total posts
Name:
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
Posted by MrsS2005
Posted by Christine
Posted by MrsS2005
If the employee opened an e-mail, which was offensive, and another co-worker happened to pass by and see it on the computer, I don't think that would constitute sexual harassment.
The company should have some type of written computer/user agreement policy detailing what is acceptable/unacceptable and disciplinary action that the employer may take if an employee violates the policy.
According to my company's lawyers, this does constitute a form of sexual harrassment. It doesn't mean the person opening the email is "guilty" of it, but any employee made to feel uncomfortable by anything of a sexual nature falls in this category.
If this were part of a repeated pattern of inappropriate behavior, I'd agree that it could be considered sexual harassment. However, this incident, standing alone, would not be enough to constitute sexual harassment. I can see why a company may define it that way to cover their a$$, but an employee would have an extremely difficult time prevailaing on a sexual harassment claim if this was the only incident that took place.
See this is what I told my friend. He has been at the company for 9 years and NEVER been reprimanded. The woman happened to be standing by his desk when he opened the email. he did not distribute it-in fact he deleted it right away. She then took it upon herself to report it to HR. I can understand if someone opens the email and called her over to look at it but my goodness he didnt even know what was in it.
ETA: he told me that he gets emails form other people in the company all the time and no one has a problem. OH boy this could turn into a nightmare if people's emails get pulled as evidence I am sure. Some of the managers at the Xmas party were making dirty jokes so I am sure if emails from random computers were pulled a whole lotta peole would be up the creek.
Message edited 2/25/2008 4:54:46 PM.
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| Posted 2/25/08 4:51 PM |
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imagin916
LIF Adult
Member since 6/05 1826 total posts
Name:
Valerie
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
I hope your friend gets a chance to explain what happened, he didn't do anything intentional to this woman, its not like he called her over and was like hey look at this, she was looking in on his computer on his private emails. Hopefully when they see what it is, they will clear him of these accusations.
I may get flamed for this, but women like this who are making a big deal out of nothing are doing a disservice to those people who really are being sexually harassed.
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| Posted 2/25/08 5:02 PM |
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HarleyGirlFLA
Come on in
Member since 5/05 9674 total posts
Name:
Mel
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
I am sorry your friend has to go through this.
I am sure your friend will have a chance to explain themselves during the investigation.
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| Posted 2/25/08 5:14 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Offensive emails at work-whats your company policy?
how can they fire him if he was the recipient?? I doubt they will.
as for the sender, I would want to kill that person for such poor judgement! not only would I not want to receive such an email at home, but NEVER EVER at work. 
Message edited 2/25/2008 6:36:29 PM.
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| Posted 2/25/08 6:36 PM |
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