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September 21, 2007
American workers may want to think a second before opening emails from their manager. According to a new national survey by the Marlin Company, 10% of employees say their company has fired or laid off employees by email. To avoid the discomfort of a face to face conversation, emails are becoming the chosen method of communication.
Approximately 752 individuals were surveyed during the months of May and June 2007 by Harris Interactive for The Marlin Company. The Marlin Company has been identified as the Workplace Communications Experts in employee communications. As stated by Frank Kenna III, president of The Marlin Company, email has become the new shield in today's business. Companies are now hiding behind emails to avoid the one on one connection with disgruntled employees. Mr. Kenna states that emails are fine for quick day to day correspondence, but by no means should employers use this form of communication when discussing sensitive issues.
The survey found that of those responding, approximately 5% had been on the receiving end when opening what was found to be a humiliating emails. Some discovered the email had also been copied to other individuals. Twenty three percent of those responding have at some point received an email which was defined as, "politically incorrect." 15% received emails with angry tones and 13% indicated receiving an email of a flirtatious nature.
According to Mr. Kenna, email etiquette is in the Middle Ages. Too many employees think anything goes when sending an email. By nature of the communication method, it is known to be informal. He recommends that just as a company has telephone policy practices, so should email policy use by defined.
Also concluded by the survey is that email related errors are at factor at work. 20% of respondents said they sent an email to the wrong person, 38% sent an email without an attachment.
Microsoft now has the opportunity based on these mistakes to pounce on U.S. workers. A warning should be added regarding a missing attachment. Mr. Kenna was prompted to add a special message to be sent to Bill Gates, "Hey Bill Gates, how about fixing that attachment problem. 52 million workers will thank you."
If you would like to see the results in its entirety or the complete survey as sent, visit: http://www.themarlincompany.com/HarrisEMail2007.pdf
The survey was conducted by telephone within the United States. Approximately 772 Unites States adults aged 18 and older who are employed full or part time were included.
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