A Crime

Yet again I see a little understood problem with regard to your posting.

You say:

'my employer's system won't let me access my personal e-mail account'

I should hope not either. Let us say that you were to take twenty minutes to look into your e-mail account, or send off responses to the good Nick, because of a posting. Now then, if you are in paid employment will you recompense your employer for the time you have spent not doing that which are paid to do.

When I went to school we were taught that if we rode on a bus without paying the fair then that was stealing, theft, if you like. Now then, theft is a crime, for which you should be punished. May I suggest that if you do tasks for your own benefit whilst being employed by somebody who pays you then by spending your time on this blog you are actually stealing, a bit harsh but I would desist if I were you because in this economic climate an employer won't need much excuse to sack you for gross misconduct. Get into the real world.