Seagram staff feel heat over e-mails

The UK network department of entertainment and beverage multinational Seagram has been hit by an internal investigation into the abuse of the company's e-mail system, which led to a high profile dismissal and resignations.

Following the launch of the investigation, the company's Year 2000 manager, Lan infrastructure manager and NT support manager resigned.

The company's head of treasury, Pier Sehnell, was dismissed for abusing his position and using the company e-mail system in a manner considered to be unprofessional by Seagram.

A number of IT contract staff were also involved in the investigation and have not been retained by the company.

Seagram spokesperson, Sue Taylor, confirmed that contracts had been terminated, but stressed fewer than 10 were involved. "We're talking single figures," she said. "It was for misuse of e-mail."

The situation has hit Seagram just as it was rolling out a network to connect its German and UK offices.

Seagram's Year 2000 manager, Lan infrastructure manager and NT support manager are understood to have applied for similar positions in other organisations. Taylor confirmed that the decision was implemented by Seagram's human resources department.

The legalities governing e-mail transmission are well-defined, if widely misunderstood; but they are also open to arbitrary implementation.