Legal Question in Employment Law in Iowa

I am a manager at an association in Iowa. I have an employee who sent an email from her personal email account (during her non-work time) to a candidate running for state office. The gist of her email was to tell him she was dissappointed in a television commercial he was running regarding his opponent. She felt it was unfair and/or inacurate. The email went into quite some detail which I will not get in to here. My employee and the candidate exchanged a few "back and forths" on the subject.
The candidate is a member of our association, and as an association we were supporting his campaign. (He has since won his election.) The candidate forwarded the email to our Sr. Vice President/Government Relations person. I don't know exactly why he forwarded it to her. Maybe as an FYI.
The Sr. VP told me today that she shared the email and discussed it with our CEO. The Sr. VP told me that she and the CEO were both pissed and that my employee has done irrepairable damage to her career at our company. She stopped midway in saying "she's finished" at our company.
This employee (the email sender) is a very high performer in a mid-level position who has always been considered a shoe-in for a management position if and when one becomes available.
I think more than anything right now I really need counsel as a Manger. What, if anything should I do as I feel a responsibility to my employee. Are there legal implications here? Any guidance or information would be appreciated.

Asked on 2/10/11, 8:05 pm

Robert Luedeman solo practitioner

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0 attorneys agreed

I think you're out of the picture. Your employee is on thin ice and you could be there too if you're not careful.

Answered on 2/12/11, 7:48 am

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