Legal Question in Employment Law in California

Employee performance shared with entire company

The following e-mail was sent from my boss to her boss and then forwarded to the entire company.

**Please view the following. Obviously something needs to change. I think we need to give ...... more hospitals, and perhaps take some off of .... . Her attitude and work ethic has been terrible�.** (I am the second dotted line)

They recalled the e-mail but many people had already read it and it is now the topic of conversation at work. I do not feel comfortable at work any longer and told them so today. They feel that they did nothing wrong and I have no legal recourse. I disagree. Can someone out there please advise me?


Asked on 9/30/03, 7:06 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert F. Cohen Law Office of Robert F. Cohen

Re: Employee performance shared with entire company

Assuming that the e-mail was false, you might have a cause of action for defamation. A conditional privilege exists as to such information in California for work-related communications. However, if disseminated to the entire company, communications based upon falsities could attach a significant penalty. Again, though, this might just be opinion, rather than fact. You should consult with an employment attorney, and discuss the events subsequent to the inadvertent (seemingly) dissemination.

Read more
Answered on 9/30/03, 8:51 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Labor and Employment Law questions and answers in California