We have always known that the corporations like to play big brother with their employees, but now we have the hard research to prove it.

Forrester Consulting has released the results of it’s annual outbound email survey.  The survey shows that large corporations have a strong sense of paranoia when it comes to what their employees might be saying on the interwebs, specifically email, blogs, and social networks.  So, what are they doing about that paranoia?  They are watching you.

The survey included 301 “email decision makers” from companies in the US with more then 100 employees, and here is what they found :

• 44% have conducted investigations into potential leaks stemming from email in the past year
• 23% feel that their business has been impacted by such a leak
• 41% of large corporations (20,000 + employees) hire people with the express purpose of disseminating outbound email

• 21% have investigated leaks surrounding posting on a blog, or message board.
• 12% have investigated leaks that occured using a social networking site, or IM application.

Companies have a valid concern, given the virility of information once it hits the internet.  Sensitive trade information, corporate strategies, and other company secrets are vulnerable to third party abuse.

Email, and internet communication is a vital part of company business, but the risks are significant, and the days of allowing employees a measure of privacy online at work, are quickly coming to an end.  So, when you start to type that steamy email to the wife, or mistress, be aware of who else is going to read it, and how it might impact your future employment.