Official EMAIL ID HACKED By Employer

Official Email id hacked
Just like to tell you that my official email id was accessed by the IT department of my company and the entire mails were deleted. I wasnt even informed about this nor was any notice sent to me.
After having done this they even reset the password.I was send an sms regading the change in password. When i informed the HR department they said there was a server problem which resulted in deletion of mails but i cross checked with other employees their mails were fine.
I am sure this was done under instruction of my boss.
Is this not cyber crime? Even though i work for the company and the id is their property but how someone can hack into my mails, delete them and reset my password without informing me.
Please suggest. Can i take legal action?

No you can't take legal action coz while you work for the company your official id is there property and is controlled by the centralised server under IT department. So its there right to control your mail id.

Hi,
Itz very true that IT dept has every right to delete the mails (if in case server is unable to hold more data or for security reasons to protect the infringement of data ).
In other way, the superior has the accessibility to grant the IT dept to delete unwanted mails .
But it is unfair if it is done without any intimation.So you can approach HR dept informing them to send a prior notification (in order not to repeat such actions without ur concern ),because ultimately u r responsible to answer for the mails sometimes ...
So my suggestion is to keep a back up of ur mails !!

Dear ashwinadhikari
Official email id/inbox/storage/password, all are company property and the company has every (reasonable) right over it.
Since, it is not to be used for 'personal purposes', an employee has no recourse to the privacy issue.
As such no cyber-crime is involved here.
Having said that, it is generally very uncommon to find the IT deptt. deleting emails - unless due to some oversight. In case of suspected or proven misuse, employees are issued warning letters.
Since you suspect that it was under the instruction of your boss, I suggest that you be on alert, with respect to your official work, communications, behaviour etc. Such incident do not portent well for one's job. Do take extra care.
Warm regards.

You just create a gmail ID and give POP 3 access to down load your official mails. This backup do not cost you anything if you do not have a laptop/PC. If you have a PC you can use MS office outlook to download.
If you do not download server will get hanged due to excess data and what IT dept done is their job only.
You do not have any right to get upset on your lack of Knowledge.
Warm Regards

Were you using the company computer/server for your personal emails/communication?
That too during working hours when you should have been doing so for the company?
If yes, then they have every right to delete material.and reassign passpords.
May I suggest you use company time to do company work.
Get yourself a private email id and use your personal computer for your private communications.

• It is well within the authority of IT Department to supervise and delete your emails. However it is very unprofessional and unethical on their part to delete your emails without informing you and without giving any reason for the same.

• I feel first you should make a formal complaint to Head of IT Dept. thru your immediate boss about this stating that your emails are deleted without your knowledge and no reason is given for this unilateral action. You can possibly mention in your complaint that, due to unilateral deletion of emails important communication and data is lost for ever and it will lead to disruption in working of your department. In case deletion has happened on the instruction of your boss he will possibly not support you to forward your complaint and you will also know about role of your boss in this matter.

• Please note that, it is very difficult for anyone in a organization to lodge a complaint against somebody unless you have strong boss on your side or you are also prepared to take on your boss as well, if need be.

• You will have to take a call, whether to pursue the complaint further, without the support of your boss.

• You will have to trade very cautiously in this case by judging your own and others position and reputation in your organization and by prejudging possible reaction, pros and cons.

Thanks & Regards

Hi
This is the first time i have heard of this incident. There must be some kind of suspicion your boss or the IT Dept has regarding your mailbox and email activities. So be on your alert, use official id only for official mails and if u do exchange a personal email through your official id, delete it immediately. If there were some official emails that u have lost in the process, approach the IT dept and take a backup. They will be able to retrieve it from the server.

First of all thanks for ur reply. And please remember that assumption is the mother of all blunders. So u ve assumed that i was using that id for doing personal work and not working during working hours. Please dont jump the gun.
Read the post properly think and reply.
Why would the company delete my mails if i was doing something wrong rather they will sack me or give warning.
Rather they didnt want certain communications i had with them to be on record.
You seem to be talking like a typical HR, pointing finger at employee.
And for more info go and read the IT Act with amendment 2008

Now you are making assumptions! Do read my email carefully....I ASKED if you were using yr company computer/server for private work. I did not assume you were.
Furthermore if you do not like comments then you should not post your complaints on this site for it is an HR site !
Your assumption based on your views about HR leave me confused....why then ( if you feel that HR is "pointing a finger at employee" ) did you post on this website?