NSFW = Not Safe For Work? What’s with that!?

Today’s post is short and to the point primarily because the subject should be common sense, but apparently, it is not to some.

I was interviewed recently on my view concerning the use of the acronym NSFW. Some felt that an acronym noting “Not Safe For Work” is necessary when sending emails to those they knew were at work to warn them. This is a visible warning that the content or links contained within were questionable and not proper for the work environment.

If that is indeed the case why would you proceed and click send? By typing those four letters, are you then absolved from any responsibility for the content of the email and the fact it has nothing to do with someone’s work responsibilities? I don’t think so.

NSFW should be DSTW (Don’t Send to Work)

“Not Safe For Work,” but we’re sending to a company work email address anyway? What am I missing here?

My reaction is there is no need for such an acronym. Typing NSFW reflects that you lack the common sense and respect to know not to send emails with questionable content to someone’s company work email.

If you find yourself typing NSFW, stop.

Before sending an email with NFSW, instead, send an email asking for your contact’s personal email address. Then, explain that you have a non-business-related email you would like to send.

When you have friends that send you emails that use this acronym, show that you are a responsible employee. (Don’t doubt that your email activities may be or can be monitored.)

Inform the sender not to use your company email address for anything not business-related. At that time, you can also provide your personal email address for future personal communications.

Easy! Get a personal email address.

Don’t have a personal email? Get one at Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo — there are several free email account providers to choose from. There is no excuse to use your work email address for anything other than work-related communications. Period.

Better yet, be a real pro and get a yourname.com or yourname.me domain. You can then use that email address for everything not work-related. Even your own website if you choose to have one down the road. For a few extra bucks a month for a reliable email provider, you then have a separate email address for everything that is not work-related.

It is inexpensive and gives you the tools to segregate your personal from your business communications. You can use it for subscribing to newsletters, your personal social media accounts, and even job hunting.

It is surprising how we spend so much time creating ways to justify doing things we know we shouldn’t be doing in the first place. Using company email for anything other than company business should include this acronym: IUE (Irresponsible Unprofessional Employee).