CommLog

Two recent articles on email policies warrant a scan. In the November issue of Darwin, Janet Evans recommends six questions organizations should ask to help ensure they have a comprehensive and viable email policy:

• What constitutes a fair workplace e-mail policy? Does it protect the employer and the employee?

• How do you define queasy qualifiers in your policy like "reasonable use"?

• What is your company's policy on the transmittal of confidential or copyrighted material?

• How does your workplace control improper access to computers, such as mandated password changes on a regular basis?

• Is there a policy in place regarding improper access of company e-mail by system administrators; i.e., who watches the watchdogs?

• Do you have a mechanism in place to communicate about viruses and hoaxes?

She also points out, correctly, that snopes.com "is a great resource for gullible employees tempted to forward e-mails hoaxes such as computer virus warnings." Meanwhile, according to the BBC, "legal experts are warning companies to do more to stop pornographic spam reaching employees. Firms that do not take steps to stop sexually explicit spam could face lawsuits from employees suffering distress because of exposure to offensive images."