Workplace email, or how to get fired!

We live in an electronic age. Everyone is connected by phone, email, texts, social media, &c.

Everyone working as a Detention Deputy or CO is aware of the Sheriff's Office/County email policy.

Every once in a while someone gets pinched using county email for personal use, or worse outside business use.

A 17 year Ramsey County Sheriff's Department employee went astray of the County Policy and was fired. He appealed his firing through Arbitration.

This ended up in Arbitration BMS Case 18-PA-0261 Hendrickson Discharge.

Allegation:

*Grievant received racist, sexist and pornographic emails on employer email without objection.
*Conducted his outside business using his Ramsey County email address.
*Grievant worked for a Security Company for 6 years without employer permission.
*Grievant violated MN Data Practices Act

Defense:

*Long time employee with good discipline record, even was promoted to Sergeant.
*The emails were sent while grievant was on Workers Comp and NOT opened at work.
*Most of the emails were forwarded and/or not opened on the Employer's system.
*County could stop receipt of outside email by using filters.
*Grievant thought he was forwarding Data Practice protected information to Law Enforcement.

Decision:

Termination upheld by the Arbitrator.


Bottom line, employer email is employer email. Even if accessed offsite!