It happens all the time. E-mails sent specifically to one person, end up getting forwarded to others. Even though it happens all the time, just like many other misconceptions about the online arena and e-mail, that doesn’t mean that it is good practice.
When someone sends you an e-mail, consider it for your eyes only. By forwarding private e-mails to others, you are reflecting a lack of character by betraying the trust of the person whose e-mail you are exposing without their permission. That certainly isn’t good for your business or reputation as a professional.
Intentions do not make a difference either. Whether you are forwarding to help or to harm doesn’t make the forwarding in of itself O.K. If you feel forwarding an e-mail to another party can help the person who sent it to you, simply ask their permission to do so letting them know what you hope to accomplish.
E-mails are copyright protected by the author at the time they are created. That’s just how copyright works with written works. So, to forward, publish or post without the original author’s permission is copyright infringement.
In the workplace one should not forward coworkers e-mails without their knowledge or permission. You may be viewed as petty or untrustworthy depending on your motives for doing so. Either way you have breached a coworkers trust and that can’t be a good thing! What about the privacy issue? When on company time using company resources — in the workplace there should be no expectation of privacy.
The bottom line? Always ask before forwarding and explain your reasons for doing so.
Some More Info for You:
![[Business E-mail Etiquette eBook]](http://www.businessemailetiquette.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/bee-2012-100x140.png)
![[Take The Email Etiquette Pledge]](http://www.emailetiquettepledge.com/ee-rev-medium.jpg)
