Legal Question in Employment Law in Washington

Re: former employer question

Your privacy is not always protected via work e-mail; however, the actions taken by the business in representing you when you are gone may be illegal for the following reasons:

1) your expectation is that your e-mail account would be discontinued upon your termination

2) you would not have expected your identity to be compromised while you worked at that business, and you expect the integrity of your business reputation to be uncompromised

3) your business reputation is being compromised by a fraudulent assumption of your identity

4) statements alleged to be made by you but made by another could even constitute libel

There may also be a new statute on the books (in WA or in US law) which I have not learned of, which may protect employees in your situation. Whether or not such a statute exists, you have tortious causes of action. Even if the fraud was initiated by a present employee of the business, the business may be liable in not shutting down your e-mail and allowing others to access your account.