The news late last week that an employee of JP Morgan Cazenove is said to have been suspended for allegedly sending out an e-mail in which he boasted about his s.x life is just incredible. Incredible not because a young hot-blooded male is boasting about his exploits, but incredible because he is believed to have used his work email address to send out the communication. Just when will staff learn that they are playing with fire when they do things like this ?

To put the whole thing in perspective, a recent survey undertaken in the US found that 25% of companies polled had terminated a worker for breach of e-mail policy. 20% of employers had e-mail records subpoenaed by US authorities, and 13% faced lawsuits based on employee e-mail messages. 60% of the companies confirmed that they used software to monitor incoming and external e-mails, 27% said that they monitored e-mails between employees and 10% check up on instant messaging. In this climate, you have to be careful.

Now, let's look at some of the other problems individuals and firms have got into because of e-mails:

Former CSFB IPO King Frank Quattrone faces jail time because of a 22 word e-mail he sent to his staff.

A couple of years back, a number of Wall Street firms agreed to pay $1.4bn to settle claims that their analysts issued biased stock research. It was the e-mail evidence which, in the main, caused the firms to cough up.

Merrill Lynch was said to be 'mortified' in 2004 when, during the Martha Stewart trial, it emerged that an employee allegedly sent an e-mail to his boss which showed a man in a compromising position with a goat.

In 2002 Credit Lyonnais banker Trevor Luxton sent a steamy e-mail to some of his mates, which ended up on the internet (the e-mail also ended his career at the bank). Luxton described how a female friend committed a lew act on him while he was watching TV, swigging beer, and also talking on the phone to his girlfriend. And the story turned out to have been made up.

And then we had the case more recently of the City lawyer who e-mailed a secretary and demanded £4 for dry-cleaning, as she had apparently spilled ketchup on his trousers. The secretary's reply found it's way onto the internet ('I must apologise for not getting back to you straightaway but, due to my mother's sudden illness, death and funeral, I have had more pressing issues than your £4'.) and the lawyer (and his firm) were embarrassed.

So, inappropriate e-mails can cost firms millions and can cost staff their jobs. They can embarrass individuals, and bring firms into disrepute. In today's politically sensitive, legal-action orientated, big brother world, only a fool would send out dodgy e-mails from work. Be warned.

When E-Mails Go Wrong!

Press here to comment on this story >>

Today in Life: Sick City >>

TODAY

• Top Firm Accused Of Bringing Down Lehman
• 'Their Staff...Were Making A Lot More (Than Ours). That Won't Last'
• Top Boss Says Bonuses Will Be 'Solid', But 'Smaller'

THIS WEEK

• 'My Firm Will Never Fire Me. I'm Untouchable!'
• Top Firm Accused Of Bringing Down Lehman
• 'Their Staff...Were Making A Lot More (Than Ours). That Won't Last'