Reference no: EM133164042
Case study
Hot mail at work
Lucy Peters, HR manager for Aspire Ltd, snapped, "Linda, I'm a reasonably tolerant person, but this is going too far! In the past two days you and your boyfriend have exchanged more than 250 email messages. You are here to work, not to advance your love life!"
Linda Smith's face flushed! "You mean you have been reading our messages? That's an invasion of my privacy. What my boyfriend and I have to say to each other is none of your business. How dare you read my email!"
Lucy's response was quick- "Linda, the company owns all email. I have an obligation to ensure that my subordinates do not abuse the system and that their messages are not obscene, defamatory, libelous or harassing. Your use is totally out of bounds. How can I possibly justify it? Spending so much time sending email messages to your boyfriend has got to affect your productivity. I am warning you- stop it now. If you don't, you will be fired.'
Linda glared at Lucy. 'Well, I think it is an absolute abuse of my privacy and I am going to speak to my union representative about it. There is no way that you are allowed to read my email.'
Questions:
1. Who do you think is right here- Linda or Lucy? Why?
2. If you were Lucy, would you fire Linda?
3. What workplace relations issues are raised in this case?