Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] EMail addresses in list archives

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Fri, 3 Jan 2003, Michael wrote:

> > What should previous employers do for people as far as forwarding email?
> > Anyone know what policies are out there?  I know for our company, your
> > account is fully deactivated when you leave and I haven't heard of any policy
> > that addresses this issue (except to maybe say "tough luck").
>
> IMO for legal reasons I think you should either keep the account and
> bounce all mail back to the sender or forward the mail to the requested
> address by the accounts owner. By no means would I keep a copy of that
> mail or allow someone else to open an account with the same name.
> Recording anything in a business opens you up to legal trouble and
> letting someone elses read the others mail could give rise to privacy
> issues.


But isn't your employer the owner of the e-mail account that he allows you
to use (for work purposes only) during your employment?  If the employer
were wise, he would have the employee sign an agreement at the outset
stating that the employer has the right to read any and all e-mail at any
time without requesting permission.

Personally, I like to forward mail for people after they've left.  I'll do
it indefinitely.  But I can't imagine there is any legal risk in simply
closing accounts when employees leave.  If you tell them in advance what
will happen, they'll see it coming and they won't get in the habit of
using the account for personal purposes.

Mike
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