As reported by ZDNet Australia on Friday , internal sources alleged the insurance company had been overly aggressive in its stance towards employee e-mail privacy, blocking professional and non-professional e-mail correspondence.
-In a small number of isolated cases, external e-mail access has been withdrawn from CGU staff who misused it. These staff did not require access to external e-mail to perform their job," responded CGU communications manager, Chris Jackson, in a prepared statement.
-The CGU e-mail and Internet system is primarily provided as a work tool. While CGU does not object to personal use of the e-mail and Internet system, personal use should be limited and not breach company guidelines."
"All CGU staff are required to sign a declaration stating they have read and understood CGU's 'Use of Computing and Network Facilities' policy, which outlines acceptable and unacceptable use of e-mail and Internet access. The policy states: 'CGU reserves the right to limit, restrict or extend access to or check and monitor e-mail facilities'."
Since publication of the original article, several other CGU employees have weighed into the debate.
-Most of my work colleagues take their jobs seriously and as such would not compromise the related polices. There is a saying 'when one person gains a right, another person loses it'. I feel like I have lost the right to work unwatched," a CGU staffer told ZDNet Australia on condition of anonymity.
Another ZDNet Australia reader, who claims to be a current CGU employee and also requested anonymity, said the company appeared to becoming -inwardly focused" in its approach to e-mail scrutiny, and this is affecting business as well as personal e-mail communication.
-Software is being used to monitor all e-mails internally and externally. It is my understanding that a fairly junior [IT] person monitors the e-mails and then releases e-mails which have been quarantined, after you request its release with some explanation. As I have experienced, normal business e-mails are also captured but I don't know what the criteria is."
Seemingly backing up the claim that CGU is tampering with professional e-mail as well as personal correspondence is the source who spoke to ZDNet Australia. They said the insurance company's firm stance on not accepting any attachments - even jpegs and bitmaps, which are widely regarded as non-threatening - has forced many employees to use personal Hotmail accounts for work-related communications. This, the source said, is not only an inconvenience, but it is also having a widespread impact on staff morale.
-To have my e-mail scrutinised by the security administrator is an invasion of my privacy to the extent where it is embarrassing."
What CGU are alledgedly doing is illegal under the Telecommunications (interception) act and could face criminal charges. Anybody who has emailed CGU in the past would be justified in laying a complaint against CGU with the relevent authorities.