RE: [OT] Friday dilemma...

["michael.furlong" <ukha@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dean

not sure of the legal situation but nearly everywhere I worked it is common
practice for all incoming mail to be opened EXCEPT that marked p and c,
this
is usually not opened. However as you say you are the boss and need to know
everything that is going on.

It seems that there is some underlying issue here.

I would have more concern about what employees are sending out as you as a
director could be legally liable for anything sent on behalf of the company
by an employee. Maybe explaining this and ensuring you see copies of all
outgoing correspondence would help. The usual way of doing this is to have
a
day file into which a copy of every letter/contract etc goes.

It is difficult to say but the guy may just be covering his back and
ensuring he is too important to get rid of and knows things that you don't.

Not sure what you mean by saying he is a director in name only...he either
is or he isn't

Probably not a lot of help but thats my 2p worth.

Cheers
Mick

-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Barrett [mailto:dean@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 03 September 2004 20:14
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] [OT] Friday dilemma...


Hi Glenn

You have summed up how i feel, but

1. I need to keep him for a couple of years yet.
2. Employment law over here is an absolute bitch, the words 'constructive
dismissal' strike fear into the hearts of most employers.




Dean.


_____

From: Sullivan, Glenn [mailto:gsullivan@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 03 September 2004 20:06
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] [OT] Friday dilemma...


Neil,

I get the impression that Dean was talking about snail mail, not email.

Dean,

If you are the boss, ditch the kid gloves.  You are going to have to
replace him soon enough anyway, so start looking, and then rock the
boat.

If you feel strongly enough about seeing the mail, and it's your
business, so be it.  If he doesn't like it, tell him that you hope that
the door doesn't whack his a$$ to hard on his way out.

But then again, I'm just a coarse American, so that may not be the
proper way to get things done over there...


Glenn Sullivan, MCSE+I  MCDBA
David Clark Company Inc.
-----Original Message-----
From: Neil Fuller [mailto:neil@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 3:00 PM
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] [OT] Friday dilemma...

Dean

I'm no lawyer but if this guy is using company provided bandwidth to
carry out personal business, I think you are quite right to take issue
with that.

However, as you say, it is a dilemma because if the employee does
generate substantial business, probably the last thing you want to do is
alienate him to the extent that he leaves.

It's not unreasonable for him to realise that *any* mail coming in to
the company, via the company provided connection can be deemed to be
company business. The difficulty for you is how to explain that to him.

We all take company provided bandwidth for granted but stealing
bandwidth and carrying on personal business across that connection is no
different to someone picking up the voice 'phone and having long chats
with friends.
Maybe explaining it to him using that analogy might work.

A question for you to ask yourself - Why are you concerned about this?
Are you worried that he may be passing on Co confidential info? Is he
looking for another position or are the messages from a *luvver* that he
would prefer no one knew about!! OTOH, if it's just to make a point, is
its really worth all the ill feeling that this confrontation will
elicit?

If it's the luvver scenario, he's just plain stoopid and should carry on
his personal business in a more private manner - Tell him so!!!!!

Good luck on this one coz it is a tough call, especially if its a valued
member of the team.

Finally, if this chap is so valuable, have you got a succession plan in
place to replace him when he retires?

Regards

Neil
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dean Barrett" <dean@xxxxxxx>
To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 7:26 PM
Subject: [ukha_d] [OT] Friday dilemma...


> This is probably quite contentious depending on where you look at it
from.
>
> I'm having trouble with a guy at work complaining that we are opening
mail
> that is address private and confidential.
>
> He has Director status in name only, and as MD I have informed him
that I
> have a right to view any mail relating to company business that
arrives at
> the premises. He informs me that this is illegal...
>
> The question is - am I right ???
>
> I become immediately suspicious of anyone that believes I cannot see
mail
> relating to my company. I will conceed that the girl opening mail
should
not
> open letters marked Private and Confidential, she however informs me
she
> never has done. Due to our fairly small size I see all mail when it
arrives.
>
> This guy is particularly argumentative, and I'm sure its age related
(60),
> he has never been comfortable with me running things, but he does
generate
a
> large portion of our revenue so I have to tread fairly carefully. Some
> relief comes from the fact that he's only got a couple of years till
> retirement though :)
>
> I'm keen not to back down, but by the same token don't want to end up
in a
> situation where words like illegal, and tribunal make surface.
>
> Any suggestions appreciated...
>
> I love work - I spend all day with people that act like kids, then get
home
> to deal with real ones :(
>
>
>
>
> Dean.
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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