request to open work email account

[Arnold]

Hi

Question if I may.

My boss has asked that I open my work email account to a colleague in a support role, giving them full access to my work email. I'm hesitant about this, one I dont feel I should be compelled to do so and two I dont trust the person it will be open to to have access.

Do I have to comply with this demand, is it an unreasonable request?

Thanks

[leclerc]

Re: request to open work email account

Is the mail with Outlook 2016? If it is then there are settings that means that you don't have to share all of your emails such as person ones or ones that are simply to and from colleagues. You can give them access simply to the work specific emails ONLY and not full access to every thing related to how you use email at work....hope that makes sense.

[R0b]

Re: request to open work email account

Why does the person in a support role require access to your emails? Is your job role something that requires it?

Clearly if you don't trust the person I don't think your manager would be able to force you to allow access to your email account as it's yor account any emails sent will be your responsibility.

Maybe you want to have a chat with your manager and discuss your concerns and I would also suggest that you make it clear you will be discussing it with the IT department if you have one in case it breaches any IT policies.

As lecterc says, there is different permissions that you can give the user such as read only or read and write as well as access to certain folders

[ostell]

Re: request to open work email account

The important words here are works email account. The account is for work use and it is perfectly reasonable for the manager to request it be available to other employees if required.

If you want a personal email account then go get one. Plenty available for free.

This is a works asset and it's perfectly reasonable for the employer to control it. I hate it when I get complaints about computers when the cause of the problem is the employee's use of the equipment for private purposes, to the detriment of the real work.

[R0b]

Re: request to open work email account

Although it may be reasonable in some respects, it's not reasonable for the OP to take accountability for any emails sent by the support role person which could potentially cause his job loss. For example where I work, it is a strict policy that nobody accesses any persons email account without having been approved by head of IT and the persons manager.

[paulajayne]

Re: request to open work email account

Why not get IT to set up an account for this person and then set up forwarding from your account of mail from specific addresses.