The Downing Street adviser had not intended his smear suggestions to enter the public arena, and claims they were intended as "a private email to a mate" but personal emails such as these could be in breach of an employer's internet usage policy, if it is sent from their email account.
Jacqueline McClusky, partner and head of the employment team at HBJ Gateley Wareing, explains the scandal could encourage employers to become more sensitive about employee internet use.
She said: "The employer is ultimately legally responsible for the content of emails sent out from their company's email accounts. So the onus is on them through proper training and policing of internet usage to make sure the rules have been communicated properly in the first place and are understood by staff.
"Those who may be tempted to send personal emails during the working day need to resist and be made aware of the implications of their actions."
Damian McBride email fiasco is a warning to bosses to monitor employee internet use
Following the headlines earlier in the week about Labour adviser Damian McBride's attempted smear campaign of Conservative MPs, employees should be warned to think twice before sending personal emails from their work accounts, according to an employment lawyer.
