It's Nothing Personal!

Dec 1, 2006 12:00 PM

           

The MYTH: Instant messages, personal e-mails and unsent files created on work computers remain personal.

The REALITY: Personal e-mail messages, instant messages and personal documents created on a work computer as well as personal Web searches can become public business records.

Inside the PROBLEM: According to a survey conducted by Keltron Research and commissioned by WeComply Inc., half of the survey sample did not know that personal e-mail, instant messages and unsent files created on a work computer could become business records. In addition, 40 percent did not realize that personal Web searches on work computers could also become business records. The survey polled 1,000 nationally representative U.S. workers age 18 and older who have both Internet and e-mail at work and are not self-employed. Other findings concluded that two-thirds of workers did not understand that personal instant messages to friends could become business records and that younger workers tended to be less aware than older ones.

The RECOMMENDATION: The study concludes that companies should re-evaluate the training provided to employees to ensure they understand the full implications of their personal activities on work computers, even those that are thought to be independent of company systems. Training should cover e-mail, instant messaging, Web-surfing, creation of personal documents as well as Web-blogging, music and video-sharing. “Refresher” training on an annual basis may be necessary, as new forms of electronic communication are introduced, according to researchers.

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