Someone elses emails

RedSoleShoes

What is the HR policy generally on someone reading someone elses emails? i.e. if someone used a computer that was logged on to a colleagues account and they read emails on that account. Is there some policy against this?

Emmzi

usually there's a policy against sharing passwords and logins, so second person shouldn't have been on first person's PC at all, and first person should have password locked it before leaving the desk. So both people would be at fault.

BUT what does your company IT policy say AND what was dodgy in the emails to make it matter? Context is everything!

Sambucus_Nigra

RedSoleShoes wrote: »

What is the HR policy generally on someone reading someone elses emails? i.e. if someone used a computer that was logged on to a colleagues account and they read emails on that account. Is there some policy against this?

It's usually an IT policy, not a HR one.

What happened?

SarEl

It would depend on the individual companies policy - but someone logged on in their own name should never walk off from a computer without logging off. Again, not law, just policy, and also good practice. But it might help if we knew why you were asking rather than theoretical questions.

RedSoleShoes

Well, I had to cover the receptionist (a temp) for half an hour. She left it logged in on her name, which isn't unusual for the permanent receptionist to do when someone covers her. I sent an email to another staff member (explaining it was me not her) with a telephone msg and went to the sent items after and noticed lots between her and another colleague. I looked at a couple and they were completely slagging me off, making comments about my personal appearance and the clothes i wear. The thing is, it was so out of the blue, I have always been friendly to them and vice versa (although obviously 2faced on their part). I havent said anything but just been blanking them and deleted them both of FB so i think they know ive seen something.

The temp knows i sent an email from her account, i told her and she said "ok fine".

People keep telling me to confront them but I'm not sure that is the best idea. Don't want to get myself in trouble so thinking it might be best for me to just continue as I am and just say the bare minimum when work requires it.

Emmzi

I would continue as you are because I suspect both of you are in breach of your IT policy and that will be more important to the bosses than any in-fighting. I would check this out first thing Monday, make sure you get hold of a copy.

I also don't friend any work people on FB at all. Saves so much pain in the long run. Linked in for work, FB for home.

scheming_gypsy

You can't confront them as you were snooping on her private email. Even managers aren't allowed to have access to staff email without their consent and IT can't look at it without good cause.

Sambucus_Nigra

RedSoleShoes wrote: »

People keep telling me to confront them but I'm not sure that is the best idea. Don't want to get myself in trouble so thinking it might be best for me to just continue as I am and just say the bare minimum when work requires it.

Do not confront anyone. Just get on with your life and never let them know what you know.

LadyMissA

RedSoleShoes wrote: »

Well, I had to cover the receptionist (a temp) for half an hour. She left it logged in on her name, which isn't unusual for the permanent receptionist to do when someone covers her. I sent an email to another staff member (explaining it was me not her) with a telephone msg and went to the sent items after and noticed lots between her and another colleague. I looked at a couple and they were completely slagging me off, making comments about my personal appearance and the clothes i wear. The thing is, it was so out of the blue, I have always been friendly to them and vice versa (although obviously 2faced on their part). I havent said anything but just been blanking them and deleted them both of FB so i think they know ive seen something.

The temp knows i sent an email from her account, i told her and she said "ok fine".

People keep telling me to confront them but I'm not sure that is the best idea. Don't want to get myself in trouble so thinking it might be best for me to just continue as I am and just say the bare minimum when work requires it.

you shouldn't have really been looking in the sent box regardless of how or why you were on the pc. Never find anything nice if you go looking for it. However she must be aware that some IT teams can look in everyones email sent/inboxes so she should be careful too

scheming_gypsy

LadyMissA wrote: »

However she must know that anyone in IT can look in everyones email sent/inboxes so she should be careful too

not necessarily, it depends on the mail system that's used. If it's POP email then there's a good chance the mailboxes are stored locally rather than on a server so IT can't see inside it - without logging onto the PC as the user or pointing a mail app to their mailbox.
If they use Exchange then the mailbox is server based but you can create a local mailbox and have it delivered there; but even if it is a server based mailbox only Exchange admin have access to all mail. Still not allowed to look at it without a business reason though



grrrr, you edited while i was typing

RedSoleShoes

LadyMissA wrote: »

you shouldn't have really been looking in the sent box regardless of how or why you were on the pc. Never find anything nice if you go looking for it. However she must be aware that some IT teams can look in everyones email sent/inboxes so she should be careful too

Yes,I am aware i shouldn't have been looking but I'm glad I did otherwise I would have continued to look like a mug by being friendly to these girls who are slating me. At least I can make them feel a bit cr4p about it by not being friendly at all with them anymore.

I guess if I don't confront them, they will always wonder exactly what I did see and will never be able to ask me so I kind of have the upper hand.