Can I send e-mails to you or other advisers about my employment problems?

For reasons of confidentiality and any potential claims of misuse of company time and property, you are advised to make such communications in your own time and using your own equipment. You should never assume e-mail remains confidential.

You would probably have legal protection if you were actually preparing for a disciplinary or grievance hearing and are consulting with the person who will be accompanying you, for example, your trade union officer. But again there is always a risk that e-mail will fall into the wrong hands.

You should check your organisation's policies in this area. Employers are increasingly developing codes of conduct regarding the use of company e-mail systems and restricting the use of e-mail to company business so there may be a written policy in existence.