7 at 1st Union Fired For X-Rated E-Mail

First Union Corp. fired seven employees during the past week for sending pornographic electronic mail. The Charlotte, N.C., company found the material when high message volume at its customer information center slowed a server.

Company spokeswoman Sandy Deem would not specify the fired employees' departments.

Some lawyers say pornographic e-mail makes companies vulnerable to sexual harassment suits.

"Our policy expressly states that First Union will not tolerate conduct that interferes with another person's work performance or creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile environment," Ms. Deem said. "Employee sharing of pornographic materials during working hours is strictly prohibited." -- Dan Weil

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