Help... left my terminal unlocked at work...

ceebeeby

Does the employer know you're pregnant - they'll probably act cautiously on any disciplinary because of that (rightly or wrongly)

However, doh!!! What on earth were you writing personal emails at work for. Probably lesson learnt. Say sorry and don't do it again, and you'll probably get away with a warning.

Rebchappers

I can, hand on heart, say that as soon as i realised it was not my computer ( despite the coleague deliberatly not logging me off in order to access my details) i would have logged off. Not only did they have access to my emails, they also had access to my personal HR reviews and such like.

This wasnt done by accident. It was deliberate and with intent.

Thank you all

Fluffi

real1314 wrote: »

Under the "Computer Misuse Act" it is a criminal offence to access data without appropriate right or authorisation to do so.

Looks like the OPs colleague has done just that.

Whilst the employer may have every right to check emails etc, the colleague has no right at all. They have taken advantage of the OPs situation to commit an offence.

See your Trade Union if you have one, maybe an employment rights solicitor if you haven't

Most Companies make you sign an IT policy or state in your contract that your email belongs to the Company and IT personnel/directors/management can access it at any time - the IT department could have simply run a random audit of sent emails and the OP would be facing potential disciplinary for email misuse so that fact that a colleague has discovered it and reported her to the boss isn't relevant and doesn't change what the OP has already done. Even 50 emails over a couple of weeks is a lot unless they were one line emails - that's 2/3 emails a day!

Now that the boss is aware of the number and nature of the personal emails being sent by the OP they will simply alert the IT department to verify that what has already found out by the colleague - I don't see the point in getting the union or a solicitor involved the outcome will be the same.

The only thing I would say is I don't think its bullying or harassment - the email misuse is probably sufficient grounds for disciplinary or dismissal if the Company are so inclined and they can just claim is was the result of an IT audit.

oxenryd

Surely the colleague needs to also be done for using someone else's computer.

If ever I used a colleague's computer at work (being logged on as someone else), I know I'd be suspended.

Rebchappers

I am allowed to use my works computer for personal use. In fact, we are allowed to use it for email and internet for up to 2 hours a day.

I have no problem with my employer accessing and monitoring my usage, afterall it is their equiptment.

I do have a problem, with other colleagues knowingly accessing my computer and searching through my files.

Again, i know i probably shouldnt have sent these emails in the first place, and i indeed will be apologising to the said colleague. I have certainly learnt my lesson.

viktory

Rebchappers wrote: »

Perhaps the fifty or so i had sent today to my husband?

:eek: Did you really send FIFTY odd e-mails to your husband while at work?

Edit: Just noticed, not all one the same day.

Nice colleagues you have :rolleyes:

McKneff

Say youre sorry, and mean it, I'm sure by now you will mean it.
As yu say, you have learnt your lesson. Dont do it again.
(emergencies aside) if yu have such a need to write an email that really cant wait, email it to your own email account as a copy,then delete it immediately.
Your company would be able to access it with a computer buff but no one else would be able to.
I will keep my fingers crossed for you and please let us know how you get on.

And i do understand why you are angry about your colleague reading your emails and i really think she
ought to be apologising to you also.

ceridwen

Rebchappers wrote: »

{The OP knew that the other party had accessed their computer and allowed it. The colleague will claim they didnt access them and inadvertently saw them and reported it.}

I didnt know... the colleague specifically told me that they had logged me off. Stupidly, i believed them. How can they claim they didnt access them, when they would have had to read through hundreds of them to find these emails?

Again, i know i was wrong to send these emails and im not trying to get out of that. Just that they shouldnt have gone through my computer on purpose.

Well - on an "official" level - then I guess the best thing now is to check with the Union who is officially allowed to go through an employees' emails. I would have thought it would only be IT people or HR people or such - and not some stray "nosey parker" of a colleague.

Okays - so maybe you shouldnt have sent them - but was "noseyparker" authorised to go "snooping" on one of the employees?

I would certainly be very angry with "noseyparker" for said snooping in your position and the lie they told about having logged you off - and very interested as to just what their explanation is for having done this:cool:.

Once this matter has been settled - one way or another - I would certainly personally be asking the "noseyparker" why they did this - if only to embarrass the heck out of them.

Zazen999

These emails weren't accusing this person of being a snoopy, nosey slimy a$$hole were they?

I imagine they didn't go through all 400 emails, but just put their name into a search and found them that way.

What sort of things were the emails saying; one thing saying they are perhaps not pulling their weight; it's another saying that they are a slapper [for example - just going on what I know people say about others]....is it calm enough for you to justify with your 'work' hat on or is it more personal?

Becles

Is it Outlook that you use?

You can do a search in there, so rather than read through all the emails, the person might have just done a search on their name.