Unlike Alberto Gonzeles and his cadre of lawyers, we have been burned enough on business emails to know that they are what's called 'discoverable.' Our attorneys tell us that when we're discussing business strategies, the competition and anything sensitive we should keep in mind that our emails could become part of the record. We've learned that pontificating on email is bad news.
Here are few of things you should never do in an email:
1.) Never hit reply-all. This is non-negotiable and never acceptable. Best case scenario? You start a chain reaction of reply-alls that fill your inbox with every idiot on the list putting in their two cents.
2.) Use complete sentences, punctuation and spell-check. Ur shorthand mkes u look like an idiut.
3.) When pissed off by an email. Delete it. Do not reply. It never works out for you.
4.) If at all possible, pick up the phone and respond...or better yet lean your head over the cube and shout out an answer.
5.) Never send an email to a co-worker discussing how big of an ass your boss is. Your boss 'owns' your emails from work and has access to read them any time they want to.
Add your own lessons learned in the comments. Maybe Alberto will read them!
There would be no protection of anything except the fact that your lawyer was privy to conversation if you BCC them on anything since the e-mail went to the recipient.
On a similar note though, I find it useful to BCC bosses, either your own or the persons when you really need anything from the person to whom you're sending the message. (thanks to daniel webster who by the way did spelling not grammar)
Never send a message critical of your boss to a list serve that he reads too.
I know...I just saw it on courtTV that an email was rendered inadmissable in court because the defendant had BCC'd his lawyer. I thought it was pretty far fetched, too, but the lawyer got the email thrown out. Go figure.
I want that lawyer if I ever screw up. I also want that case name so I can find it to see it reversed on appeal.
RSS
When emailing a request from somone on the same level than you or higher. Be sure the "Bcc" other people you want to have look at it. Never "Cc" the message. "Bcc" allows you to send it to the other people without letting the recipient know.
If it is really bad, be sure to "Bcc" it to your lawyer, since that can be protected under attorney/client privilege.