News19,135 Articles

January 29, 2009

25% of Brits have sent saucy work emails

Proofpoint: UK is irresponsible in the office

Carrie-Ann Skinner

Brits are becoming too relaxed over the way they use email at work, says Proofpoint.

According to the email security firm, 54 percent of staff admitted to hitting 'reply-all' by mistake when responding  to a company-wide email, with comments that were unprofessional and unsuitable for the workplace. The research also highlighted that a quarter of UK office workers have accidentally emailed saucy comments intended for a lover to colleagues, while eight percent have responded to spam emails.

It's not only work emails that encourage Brits to behave irresponsibly either. Proofpoint's survey revealed 33 percent have watched pornography on their work computer but only seven percent were caught doing so.

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"A real crossover in the digital realm between personal and professional lives means staff are increasingly relaxed in their use of workplace email and internet," said David Stanley, UK managing director at Proofpoint.

"Working longer hours and therefore using these technologies more to stay in touch with friends and family can only heighten the risk. If users are behaving irresponsibly then companies must crack down on the emails they let in and out of their workplace."

See also: 70% of Brits monitor partner's online activity

See also: Explaining the UK's drunken porno office party

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Comments received


shagg said on Saturday, 31 January 2009

Let's not forget that includes supervisors and managers.

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