MEMORANDUM

To: Ms. Susan Williams Commented [LR1]:

Commented [LR2R1]: These details appear a little too far
From: Karina Bernard apart.

Date: September 6, 2017

Subject: Research on the Expectation of Privacy in the Workplace

As The Williams Group has reached a certain level of growth, the company must codify its
communication policies. The following provides initial research on the general state of affairs
regarding the uses of email and Internet, the expectation of privacy in the corporate workplace,
and recommendations. Commented [LR3]: The spacing between this and the next
paragraph is a little too much.
Commented [LR4]: Recommendations is much too vague.
Specify recommendations regarding what.

Email Use
Email is the most widely used tool for business communication at the workplace. It is important
because it creates a fast and reliable form of communication that is free and easily accessible. It
is not characterized by the inconveniences that are generally associated with traditional
communication media, such as telephone or postal mail. Businesses of any type can effectively
use email for multiple purposes which includes sending information internally and externally.

Internet Use
The Internet is a worldwide system of computer networks - a network of networks in which users
at any one computer can, if they have permission, get information from any other computer.
Businesses utilize the Internet to spread the word about the organization and advertise job
openings. Internet provides communication with other organizations, members, staff, supporters
and donors. It helps the business to maintain up to date information, to gain full access to a
supply of current information, and to help save finances. Commented [LR5]: These two paragraphs contain no mention
of backing by research and the client is less like to trust the
specifics.

The Expectations of Privacy

Employees believe that employers should not have the right to monitor workplace e-mail and
Internet use. Employers should not have the right to monitor what sites employees are visiting or
what e-mails are being sent and received because employees feel that such monitoring is a
violation of their privacy rights. They believe that some personal Internet or email use at work is
acceptable. More than 87 percent of employees surveyed stated that it was appropriate for them
to surf non-work-related Web sites for at least some portion of the workday. Of these, some 55
percent indicated that it was appropriate for employees to spend anywhere from 15 minutes to 30
minutes on the Internet or dealing with personal e-mail each workday. Almost 57 percent of
employees felt that this personal Internet and e-mail use decreased their productivity. Almost 55
percent of employees thought that their employers were not monitoring either their Internet
usage or the e-mails they sent and received. Furthermore, only 57 percent thought that employers
should have the right to monitor their employees Internet and e-mail usage.
Recommendations
Firstly, the notice of a new policy should be specific by including what types of monitoring will
be used, how frequently it will occur, and what purpose the employer hopes to accomplish.
Secondly, monitoring should be done for reasons which include: keeping track of productivity or
monitoring the quality of customer service. Lastly, employers should allow employees to take
brief personal calls of the "I'll be home late" or "where shall we meet tonight" variety in order to
avoid problems and to deal with emergencies.
Commented [LR6]: And? What does this mean? What you
need is again research of about 8-10 sources so that you can paint
an adequate picture for the client about as you stated the current
state of affairs. One research study does not constitute the big
picture.
Commented [LR7]: Incorporate research appropriately and use
more summary than specifics from one study like this. Remember
that you have conducted ample research and are summarizing
those findings for the client. What about in text citations?
Commented [LR8]: Recommendations are always specific and
should appear as a listing. There is a lot of work left to do on this
memo to satisfy the needs of the client.
 References

Muhl J. Charle, Monthly Labor Review February 2003 page 37

https://technicalwritingsection3ramirez.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/prospective-professional-
memo-sample-1.pdf

The Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University, Introduction: Privacy in the
Workplace
https://cyber.harvard.edu/privacy/module3.html

Trilogy HQ, GFI Software 2017

https://www.gfi.com/pages/sample-internet-usage-policy.

Free Software Foundation, Importance of the Internet 2017

https://www.tibetangeeks.com/using_tech/importance/importance_of_internet.html