Top Firm Fires Staff After Alleged E-Mail Abuse

Merrill Lynch is said to have fired 13 employees in Dublin last week for alleged e-mail abuse. The firm is also said to have given written warnings to an additional 7 staff, who were sent home from the office following an inquiry.

According to press reports, two staff members were previously fired after they allegedly sent a por.ographic e-mail to a client. The latest sacking are believed to have resulted from a subsequent wide-ranging review of staff e-mails. The 13 staff who were been given the boot last week (both men and women) will have the right of appeal. The 7 who received written warnings will be required to undertake retraining on internet and e-mail practices.

Merrill Lynch is not alone is adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards staff who cross the e-mail line. There have been many recorded cases in the financial services sector now of individuals who have lost their jobs because they have broken the rules. Staff who lose out like this have only themselves to blame.

In a statement, Merrill said that 'our employees are notified of, and advised, to carefully follow strict policies on electronic communications. We want to create the right environment, and do not condone inappropriate use of the firm's systems'.

A recent survey undertaken for security firm ProofPoint revealed that 38% of UK and US companies employed staff whose sole job was to review staff e-mails. At companies with over 20,000 employees, that jumps up to 44%. In the UK last year, 70% of companies are believed to have disciplined an employee for breaches of e-mail or internet policy.

E-Mails - When Will Staff Wise Up ?