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Office Politics: Personal Emails and Calls at Work
Have you ever emailed your friends
or made a doctor’s appointment while at work? What about paying a bill
over the phone or on the internet at work? Tread cautiously, says Peter
Abraham of HR4UK.com, you may not be as innocent as you think.
There are no standard rules in respect of sending personal e-mails or making personal phone calls at work; each employer views things differently.
I’d advise you, as a responsible employee, to make sure you have a clear understanding of what is expected in your workplace. What does the contract of employment or handbook say on the matter? If you work for a small employer who fails to give you a contract then remember you have the right to one after you have worked there for eight weeks, so ask for it. If you don’t ask for a contract, then you’re equally as guilty as the employer for not issuing one. What rules are displayed? Has anyone told you the rules? If in doubt, ask. I know you might not see it this way but your employer gives you money (your salary) in exchange for your work; the employer therefore has the right to say no mobile phones and definitely no private emails or surfing the net. You may also find that your employer is entitled to see your personal emails if you send them on a computer owned by the company – the best advice is simply not to send personal emails or do anything of a non-work nature whilst at work.
However, if you wish to make a doctor’s appointment why not ask if you can use the phone? An employer will rarely refuse such a request; for your employer it builds up a feeling of confidence in your commitment to the business when you make such a request, rather than just assuming you can do it.
In respect of paying bills or other personal matters, I revert to saying “you’re paid to work – what makes you feel you have the right to be paid for time spent dealing with your bills?”
The recession has put an added strain on us all, employers and employees alike. Don’t add to it by testing the relationship to see what you can ‘get away with’. Which is more important – your job, or doing personal things in work time?
For more Office politics, visit www.jobsite.co.uk. For further guidance from HR4UK on employment matters, visit www.hr4uk.com.
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