Discussion: View Thread

How about looking at the systems in the organisation.

Various procedures , etc. can have a serious impact on how leaders are
seen.

I've worked for organisations (here in France) where the directors read
the personal mail of employees (mail with the employees name on it but
not marked "personal") and employees are aware of it! Surprisingly,
most employees accept this intrusion (hierarchical power distance
acceptance, etc.)

Any reactions ?

Daniel Evans

I had occasion as chair of a faculty committee to look into this matter
here in the U.S., as a number of faculty had complained that their mail
was being opened though clearly addressed to them. On inqiry, the
business office said it opened only mail it thought might be bills so as
to protect the credit standing of the institution. I researched the
postal regulations and found that it is legal in the U.S. for the
employer to open any mail addressed to anyone c/o of the employer so long
as there is no malicious intent. In our case, there clearly was and is
no malicious intent, so the practice goes on, not without some minor
grousing by a few. This standard apparently carries over to E-mail,
which is likewise fully accessible to the administration or management as
it may wish to look. That is why the other IABS discussion group is and
can be monitored; this one is not as, apparently, a matter of choice
and availability of qualified personnel to serve as monitor.
Leon Levitt
Madonna University
Livonia Michigan
levitt@smtp.munet.edu