Can manager haul me over coals for content of personal email?
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Can manager haul me over coals for content of personal email?
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A work colleague (and out of work friend) emailed me yesterday evening over a query about an assessment unit (I work in a college). I gave my opinion and rationale about which one we should do. I added at the end that I would appreciate some help from her as I felt "unfairly burdened" by my allocation of units - I work part-time and have been given four with four different classes, and another teacher who works .75 has been given none. Above colleague has one. I am the most experienced in the team but am just getting paid the same and to me it is unfair, as the extra workload in delivering one, let alone four, is considerable.
Colleague showed email to manager who hauled me into the office and said it was against college policy to show any negativity and I could obviously not cope with the job and perhaps I'd like to leave - they have just invited me back after a year away working on a project for our local council!
My question is this: Has management any right to reprimand me at length and with considerable threatening language over a personal email sent on my own computer to another colleague's personal email, all out of college hours? Seem a bit Orwellian to me...what happened to freedom of speech?
Two words - "unfairly burdened" and I'm being threatened with losing my job.
Comments very welcome!!!.
Additional Details
Hi, email exchange was at our respective homes on our own computers
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kapn
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Yes he/she can.......unless you have a contract or are in a union......you thoughts both in and away from work can be cause along with anything he/she doesn't like can result in termination...... |
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OverRuled23
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This was done from your personal home computer to your colleague's, which meant the exchange was between the two of you only, on your time, (no cc to management). Did I get this right? Therefore-
Why did she run to your manager with your response? That's the key point as I see it, and suspect; otherwise management would have never known your opinion. Was it her way of getting you into trouble due to your opinion, which was more or less in confidence? I'd say that was a low blow.
Because of what she did, and because those e's were sent over your personal computers off college time, IMO management does not have any right to reprimand you. I'd be very careful as to what I'd write/say to her in the future if you still consider her your friend. Her action spoke much louder than words.
This is just my opinion. Consult a labor lawyer fast and good luck.
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Kristen L
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I guess the question would be, by personal e-mail do you mean the one you use at home on your home computer or a personal e-mail sent on your computer? Offices have every right to snoop at your personal e-mail if sent or responded to on your work computer. Technically, the work computer is open to anyone who uses it, mainly your boss and upper management. Unless you paid for it, then it is their's for the using. |
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jobbend
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First, I always start to answer questions like this with: Consider making it a personal policy not to write anything that you wouldn't want a judge/jury to see in a court of law.
The answer is: it depends. Any message sent to/from a computer that is owned/managed by your employer is in essence their "property". You say it was sent over your personal e-mail, but was it sent from a work owned/managed system?
If there is a company policy around how you conduct yourself and represent your company (my company has such a policy in our handbook) they may very well be within their rights. Even if they do not both you and the company have specific responsibilities and rights that may apply here.
The greater question is, Are you pursuing the "unfairly burdened" issue with management and/or HR?
Because I'm not involved directly in the situation all I have to go on is the picture you paint. There would not seem to be a freedom of speech infringement here. From your post, it would seem that you are free to speak your mind and that the college is free to speak theirs. |
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