Some questions that employees need to ask themselves are:
 

- if my company allows me to send or receive personal email using the business email system, is my privacy at work upheld whereby management or the IT department cannot access or view my private communication without my prior consent and that proper investigatory guidelines are always followed in cases of staff complaints?
 

- if an email contains a private matter, mark it as such.  Use the word "Private:" in the subject title.  This clearly stipulates that the email is private to anyone, other than the indented recipient(s), who may filter and monitor email messages.  You have rights of privacy under EU Law on working conditions in the workplace.  But please remember that employers still have circumstances when they can investigate private email communication.
 

- has my company issued me with an Acceptable Use Policy?  Do I fully understand the legal ramifications of such a statement?  Who can I ask for clarification?  Who is responsible for the upkeep of this document?  In cases of complaint, who can I discuss my issues with?
 

- does my company have a 'Data Controller' who follows the guidelines as laid down by the UK Information Commissioner Office?
 

- will the sending of an email break the guidelines or rules as laid down in the corporate Acceptable Use Policy for email use?
 

- the best advice for assessing the potential impact of the content of an email, is to ask yourself whether you would print out the email and post it on the shared office wall, or whether you would show it to your grand-parents?  If the response is no in either case, then it is best not to forward the email onto another individual and immediately delete it, or in extreme cases of harassment or intimidation, report it to your HR department.
 

- if someone sends you objectionable material by email, reply to them and tell them not send that sort of material to you again.  Do not let an event like this be ignored, the sender may assume that you like it and repeat the offence!