work email question

[dawnnhatem 0]

Is anyone here internet-savy enough to know if a company can take back emails sent out? About a year ago I was getting laid off and I was trying to avoid losing addresses, phone numbers and stuff in my work email. I didn't have the time to sift throgh my whole inbox, but I selected a bunch of messages and forwarded them to my yahoo email. I didn't ask permission and I'm not wondering if it was right or wrong...I'm wondering where those messages are. I know they were there some time later because I have referenced them more than once in the last year, and there are messages here that are older so I dont think they aged away. I can't imagine deleting these myself...If the company realised I sent them, can they take them back? Anyone know? They can't, right?

[YuAndDan 153]

That is a strange one, there is no normal way to retract email once it is sent. The only thing is you may have accidentaly deleted or possibly they contacted Yahoo and requested that they delete, I dont think they would take the time to deal with the legal issues, I am sure that Yahoo would have stonewalled to protect the privacy of their users.

I work in I.T.

[ChristinaM 0]

It is possible to bring back a message you have sent, but only if it hasn't been read. It's an option in Outlook.

I know you weren't asking, but as for whether it was right or wrong, it depends on whether you signed a non-disclosure or non-compete agreement and what you've been using them for. If you've been using them to bring business away from your old company, that is a little grey.

Have you checked that they haven't been sent to an archive folder of some kind, being a certain age?

Edited for typos

Edited August 26, 2006 by ChristinaM

[vartan 0]

That is a strange one, there is no normal way to retract email once it is sent. The only thing is you may have accidentaly deleted or possibly they contacted Yahoo and requested that they delete, I dont think they would take the time to deal with the legal issues, I am sure that Yahoo would have stonewalled to protect the privacy of their users.

I work in I.T.

What he said.. but also I know with Yahoo I have folders that I would save emails in I needed and there is a time limit on some of the folders and my emails would just self purge.. so check to see.. With an web email client it is best to print hardcopies for reference.. if you use outlook at home then you can archive and backup old emails but yahoo you are at their mercy.

[dawnnhatem 0]

Thanks for the replies. maybe I did delete them...but I just cant imagine doing that when there are stupid emails thatere that are about the same age and older. I'm just frustrated that they are gone. And yes I did have a non-compete and I am sure they wouldn't approve of my actions but I didn't have a lot of time to think about it and I wanted to keep that stuff. I miss that stuff....

[Mirorgate 0]

roll out outlook express and just use them to pop emails from your web based account to HD. wouldnt recommend using OE to SEND stuff... but atleast you can get and keep messages on your HD that way