Education & Reference If you find something you shouldn't have

[timetochange08]

Hey

I found some emails I shouldn't have at work

they were not for my eyes and about me... and its knocked me for six.

Now I don't condone what i did.. but I had seen them whilst my colleague had left the inbox open... and i ended printing them out..I was so angry about it....

is what i have done illegal? i'm very upset over them and wish I could do something about it but i've heard I can't and that I could be sacked myself for it...

In these tough times I want to watch my back,jobs aren't easy to get and I had no idea my colleagues were thinking what they were thinking..

what cause of action can I take if any..????


yeah yeah i know I'm looking for another job but it isn't that easy....I'm not going to be able to just walk into another job.

 

[Messenger]

Someone with a law degree can speak to illegality. I reckon you're on shifty ethical ground at very least.

I wouldn't admit to seeing them, let alone printing them.

Was the information about you false or simply a home truth?

 

[Bert1]

Yeah just say they were handed to you anonymously. Somebody left the printouts on your desk. You found them, were angry, now taking action.

 

[timetochange08]

Someone with a law degree can speak to illegality. I reckon you're on shifty ethical ground at very least.

I wouldn't admit to seeing them, let alone printing them.

Was the information about you false or simply a home truth?

they spoke about a my financial position and that they hope I'm looking for another job and that it would be no loss if I left...

 

[Saint KFC]

Hurry up and tell us what you found.

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

Hey

I found some emails I shouldn't have at work

they were not for my eyes and about me... and its knocked me for six.

Now I don't condone what i did.. but I had seen them whilst my colleague had left the inbox open... and i ended printing them out..I was so angry about it....

is what i have done illegal? i'm very upset over them and wish I could do something about it but i've heard I can't and that I could be sacked myself for it...

In these tough times I want to watch my back,jobs aren't easy to get and I had no idea my colleagues were thinking what they were thinking..

what cause of action can I take if any..????


yeah yeah i know I'm looking for another job but it isn't that easy....I'm not going to be able to just walk into another job.

one of the worst aspects of the digital age, finding emails/texts/posts about you. not in your case here, but when they're from someone you thought loved you, it can **** you up.

feels4uman.jpg

 

[Bert1]

Sending a text to the person it was about, two cases.

 

[Kahuna]

Take some heads, blow up some cars, start a few fires, steal many many office supplies.

 

[ben_09]

post it pls.

 

[Echo Bravo]

post it pls.

This.

If anyone asks, I don't condone this...

 

[Punchy Bassett]

Hey

I found some emails I shouldn't have at work

they were not for my eyes and about me... and its knocked me for six.

Now I don't condone what i did.. but I had seen them whilst my colleague had left the inbox open... and i ended printing them out..I was so angry about it....

is what i have done illegal? i'm very upset over them and wish I could do something about it but i've heard I can't and that I could be sacked myself for it...

In these tough times I want to watch my back,jobs aren't easy to get and I had no idea my colleagues were thinking what they were thinking..

what cause of action can I take if any..????


yeah yeah i know I'm looking for another job but it isn't that easy....I'm not going to be able to just walk into another job.

When you printed them did you forward the emails to yourself then print them, or from the PC you found them on? If nothing on there proves you printed them I would go down the anonymous route if you feel that strongly about it.

Office politics really shit me, digital age breeds many cowards.

 

[Messenger]

they spoke about a my financial position and that they hope I'm looking for another job and that it would be no loss if I left...

I don't mean to sound unsympathetic, but this is why you don't read other people's emails.

Have you had a performance review lately? Perhaps you could ask for one and get a feel for where they think you need improvement.

Again, don't show anyone at your work these emails.

 

[black_spankie]

Hey

I found some emails I shouldn't have at work

they were not for my eyes and about me... and its knocked me for six.

Now I don't condone what i did.. but I had seen them whilst my colleague had left the inbox open... and i ended printing them out..I was so angry about it....

is what i have done illegal? i'm very upset over them and wish I could do something about it but i've heard I can't and that I could be sacked myself for it...

In these tough times I want to watch my back,jobs aren't easy to get and I had no idea my colleagues were thinking what they were thinking..

what cause of action can I take if any..????


yeah yeah i know I'm looking for another job but it isn't that easy....I'm not going to be able to just walk into another job.

say they were left anonymously on your desk/workstation and claim a psychological harassment holiday on workcover.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

I don't mean to sound unsympathetic, but this is why you don't read other people's emails.

Have you had a performance review lately? Perhaps you could ask for one and get a feel for where they think you need improvement.

Again, don't show anyone at your work these emails.

On the flip side, I cannot see why a person's financial position is anyone else's business, unless it is leading to stealing from the till which is another case entirely.

 

[THRILLHO]

15 replies and you still havent posted the emails?

cmonson

 

[Schulzenfest]

Well that's an easy one. You take the money out of the walllet and then return it.

Wait, wut?

 

[HSSB]

Sending a text to the person it was about, two cases.

lol


6lols

 

[Messenger]

On the flip side, I cannot see why a person's financial position is anyone else's business, unless it is leading to stealing from the till which is another case entirely.

They're gossiping.

 

[timetochange08]

On the flip side, I cannot see why a person's financial position is anyone else's business, unless it is leading to stealing from the till which is another case entirely.

the email was yeah they are short for cash hope that makes them want to look for another job.....but my finncial position is none of their business.
its not about the till etc... its just blatant harrassment...

 

[lemon chicken]

They're gossiping.

This ^^^^

It would fall under harrassment but it's hardly worth the hassle plus you would have to admit to reading other's mail. My advice, get over it, shit like this happens everyday.

 

[raskolnikov]

they spoke about a my financial position and that they hope I'm looking for another job and that it would be no loss if I left...

I would make sure I stayed on then, just to piss them off.

 

[krusden]

the email was yeah they are short for cash hope that makes them want to look for another job.....but my finncial position is none of their business.
its not about the till etc... its just blatant harrassment...

so the emails are discussing your personal financial position that's not related to your work?

that IS harsh, but i'd expect everyone is slagged off by their workmates at some point and we all think we are popular..... but really all workmates hate our guts and wish we'd leave.

 

[The Goon]

Firstly, they have done nothing illegal by expressing their opinion. They might be gossips and backstabbing shits, but in the company's eyes they've done nothing that a quick chat / mediation wouldn't solve. It's certainly not workplace bullying if you didn't know about it. So by using it, or letting people know you have the email, you can only harm your standing, not theirs. Imagine that other workers or the Company even suspects you go through other peoples emails.

You now have the advantage that you know what they think of you, but they are unaware of this. Knowledge is power - don't act any differently towards them. Keep that advantage until either you leave (when you can tell them what you think of them if you like - although I'd recommend against it) or the best opportunity comes to use the knowledge. But never under any circumstances let them know HOW you knew their opinion of you.

Ask yourself this question: Is the colleague, or the person they emailed to, in a position to influence decisions about your job and future?

If yes, be patient but look for another job.
If no, you can safely ignore it and retain your advantage.

Finally, don't let it get to you. If you work in any decent sized work place there will be people who don't like you. Some you'll know about, some you wont, that's just life. The best revenge, as they say, is success.

 

[timetochange08]

Firstly, they have done nothing illegal by expressing their opinion. They might be gossips and backstabbing shits, but in the company's eyes they've done nothing that a quick chat / mediation wouldn't solve. It's certainly not workplace bullying if you didn't know about it. So by using it, or letting people know you have the email, you can only harm your standing, not theirs. Imagine that other workers or the Company even suspects you go through other peoples emails.

You now have the advantage that you know what they think of you, but they are unaware of this. Knowledge is power - don't act any differently towards them. Keep that advantage until either you leave (when you can tell them what you think of them if you like - although I'd recommend against it) or the best opportunity comes to use the knowledge. But never under any circumstances let them know HOW you knew their opinion of you.

Ask yourself this question: Is the colleague, or the person they emailed to, in a position to influence decisions about your job and future?

If yes, be patient but look for another job.
If no, you can safely ignore it and retain your advantage.

Finally, don't let it get to you. If you work in any decent sized work place there will be people who don't like you. Some you'll know about, some you wont, that's just life. The best revenge, as they say, is success.

Hey thanks for your advice.The person who was replying to my colleague and emails was an area manager somebody who could change my future or job or have a say in a sacking.....

yeah so easy to say find another job you should see how tough it is out there to find something bloody awful and impossible....

 

[The Goon]

Hey thanks for your advice.The person who was replying to my colleague and emails was an area manager somebody who could change my future or job or have a say in a sacking.....

yeah so easy to say find another job you should see how tough it is out there to find something bloody awful and impossible....

I'm assuming your colleague has been there longer than you and is chummy with the area manager? Do you know if the area manager agreed with them, or asked them for an assessment of you? If not, don't sweat it - from a management POV unsolicited negative assessments of other staff is ordinary at best.

If so, most staff can tell when redundancies will be made - knowing turnover is down, worried looks from management etc etc etc. If that's not happening you should be pretty safe anyway (so long as you're not getting written warnings or talkings-to).

If so and you are worried about redundancies, or see a future for yourself in the company, use your advantage! You now know who you have to impress to get over this 'hurdle'. Go the extra yard for a couple of months and make sure the colleague / your manager / the area manager know it (don't be an obvious suck up though). People's assessments of others do change. If your manager or the area manager sees that you're a valuable asset they'll ignore the colleagues advice. I absolutely guarantee this - good staff are more valuable than gold.

But most of all don't ever mention the email. For you, nothing good can come of it.

PS. I hope you're not at work now. Pet hate for most managers today: amount of time spent on personal internet stuff at work.