Emailing Company Information to an outside email address

SandyK1161

I just wondered what your thought was on this subject.  A question was emailed from one employee to another regarding a work related issue. The employee responded and also copied the email to thier personal home email address.  Our feeling here is that this is Company Information and the employee has no right to forward this to thier personal email address. Do we have any rights in requesting in the future that this not be done?

 

TXHRGuy

Could/Should have something in your non-disclosure policy, electronic communications policy, and/or non-disclosure contract.

PHS09

Did you ask why?  I needed to send info to my personal address before I was able to get my laptop functioning outside the office.  Also, my computer would not open certain files.

SandyK1161

That is acceptable if an employee is issued a company laptop or can access thier company computer from home.  This employee does not.

PHS09

What did she tell you was the reason she cced her personal email?

SandyK1161

The employee answered that it was thier way of keeping track of issues.

IrisD

What was the nature of the work-related question?  Did it contain proprietary or personnel information?

 

IT HR

I have seen and heard of people doing this so that they have a copy of the email and/or documents should something come up in the future or when they leave the company.

I would do as TXHRGuy suggested an put it in your policy that company information of any type (e-mail, documents - electronic files or printed, spreadsheets, etc) are not to be given out to any non-company personnel, not to be forwarded to outside email addresses, and all company property (including electronic documents and printed out copies) is to be returned prior to leaving the company.