Email Policy
E-MAIL POLICY
Greg Israel
TUI University
FROM: Sarcastic Systems, INC
TO: Current Employees
SUBJECT: NEW E-mail Policy Effective Immediately
Requires “Netiquette” Training and Face to Face Meetings Over the last six months the human relations department has been inundated with complaints form company employees regarding use of e-mail. These complaints range from “he’s yelling at me” and “I’m smarter than a fifth grader” to perceived sexual harassment.
While working with our employees to resolve these complaints human relations has determined that no one was deliberately trying to offend. It is understandable however, since we operate nationally, that cultures across our diverse regions perceive written correspondence differently. Additionally, these communication gaps were equally present at all levels of our company. Management, labor and contractors alike have all expressed difficulty when corresponding via e-mail.
With that said; the following guidance in implemented immediately. 1. All employees have 30 days to complete eight hours of netiquette training. The goal here is to create a common foundation from which to improve our business communications. Course requirements can be satisfied at your own leisure through on-line courses or you can attend night or weekend classes. Please check with HR as they have already identified several institutions which offer classes tailored to our needs. If you are already participating in a course or come across a course that you feel could fulfill this requirement please stop by HR as they have final say regarding course content. 2. E-mail has obviously proliferated organizational communications. At the same time it has almost eliminated worker interaction. In an effort to get each of us out of our computer corners please follow and treat this guidance as a minimum acceptable standard. For anyone you correspond with on a daily basis you need to meet with that person at least once weekly.
Greg Israel
TUI University
FROM: Sarcastic Systems, INC
TO: Current Employees
SUBJECT: NEW E-mail Policy Effective Immediately
Requires “Netiquette” Training and Face to Face Meetings Over the last six months the human relations department has been inundated with complaints form company employees regarding use of e-mail. These complaints range from “he’s yelling at me” and “I’m smarter than a fifth grader” to perceived sexual harassment.
While working with our employees to resolve these complaints human relations has determined that no one was deliberately trying to offend. It is understandable however, since we operate nationally, that cultures across our diverse regions perceive written correspondence differently. Additionally, these communication gaps were equally present at all levels of our company. Management, labor and contractors alike have all expressed difficulty when corresponding via e-mail.
With that said; the following guidance in implemented immediately. 1. All employees have 30 days to complete eight hours of netiquette training. The goal here is to create a common foundation from which to improve our business communications. Course requirements can be satisfied at your own leisure through on-line courses or you can attend night or weekend classes. Please check with HR as they have already identified several institutions which offer classes tailored to our needs. If you are already participating in a course or come across a course that you feel could fulfill this requirement please stop by HR as they have final say regarding course content. 2. E-mail has obviously proliferated organizational communications. At the same time it has almost eliminated worker interaction. In an effort to get each of us out of our computer corners please follow and treat this guidance as a minimum acceptable standard. For anyone you correspond with on a daily basis you need to meet with that person at least once weekly.
References: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=224321161&sid=1&Fmt=6&clientId=29440&RQT=309&VName=PQD, Does E-Mail Escalate Conflict? MIT Sloan Management Review (2002) http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=656397181&sid=6&Fmt=10&clientId=29440&RQT=309&VName=PQD, The Anthropology of Manners, Edward T Hall Jr, As published in The International Executive (1959)