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Source: Accounting Today
Barry Brant, partner with Berkowitz, Dick, Pollack & Brant, Miami, gives some disconcerting information on the dangers of unintended use of e-mails.
Dangers:
- E-mails can be intercepted.
- Even though they are deleted, they can be recovered and used as evidence in trials.
- You may fail to communicate your intent, since the reader does not see your body language or hear your voice. The likelihood that e-mails will be misinterpreted is much greater than for telephone communications and person-to-person communication.
Advice:
- Don’t forward e-mails without permission from the sender. They are sent to you privately. Forwarding e-mails can be risky, as in the case of Chevron, which was sued for sexual harassment as a result of circulation of an e-mail message.
- Be especially discreet about forwarding client information. Do so only with the client’s permission.
- Since most people read them cursorily, e-mail messages should be short.
- Be sure to check your spelling and grammar. E-mails are a reflection of you.
- Don’t communicate very complex issues by e-mail.
- Follow the accepted rules of e-mail communication:
- Writing in all capital letters is tantamount to shouting.
- Courtesy calls for including your contact information in all e-mails.
- Give careful thought to who should be receiving the e-mail v. who should be copied or blind copied.
- Prepare and proof the e-mail before you add the addressee(s). It is so easy to unintentionally hit the send button before you are ready.
From Accounting Today, September 5, 2005. For the complete article, click on the following link: http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=14520&;pg=acctoday. |
