PricewaterhouseCoopers launches probe into email misconduct

Contributed by Roumiana Deltcheva (Friday, November 12, 2010) | Category : Email security

PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the largest accounting firms in the world, recently launched a probe into alleged email misconduct by employees at one of the company's offices in Ireland.

An email with the subject line "This would be my shortlist for the top ten," referring to a list rating female trainees at the company, was originally circulated to 17 male PwC employees. The email, which contained the pictures of 13 female employees, spread quickly and was soon circulating at other companies.

Companies are encouraged to implement outbound content filtering into their email platform to avoid such incidents.

So far, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the world's second-largest accounting firm, has not disclosed whether or not the male employees responsible have been disciplined.

"We are taking all the necessary steps and actions in accordance with our firm's policies and procedures," the company said in a statement. "Our main concern is the impact of this matter on the women who were the subject of these emails."

Feeling regret after sending an email is common, according to a recent IBM poll. Forty-nine percent of respondents admitted to saying something in an email they later regretted. Nearly 75 percent of workers said they have sent an email to the wrong person.