Firms do spy on emails, study says

Email gossip has become a way of life in every office.

Sexist jokes and critiques of the boss are regularly sent via email without a second thought.

But a study today reveals that almost half of companies now monitor their workers' email, and they are increasingly hiring "email spies" to read all outgoing messages.

According to research from technology analysts Forrester Consulting, 44 per cent of companies now pay someone to snoop on what is in the firm's outgoing mail, with 48 per cent regularly auditing email content.

The study found companies' motivation was mostly due to fears that employees were leaking confidential memos.

Dr Martin Corbett of Warwick University believes the rise in high-profile lawsuits is to blame.

He said: "It's really a Big Brother situation. Companies have seen the massive payouts being given by courts for sexual jokes, and are running scared."

But he added: "A lot of these companies say they are looking through every email, even if they are not. It's a deterrent, just like speed cameras with no film in."