COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - Four Collier County employees, fired for sending inappropriate e-mails at work, are now suing the county and the state.

The lawsuit claims those employees were discriminated against, and all employees who use work computers for personal use should face similar penalties.

"We're not supposed to but every now and then I'll surf the web," Jeff Grass says.

Booking a trip, shopping, or even checking your personal e-mail. These are all things many employers have policies against their employees doing at work. Still many people do.

"I check it, At Caldwell Banker. Nobody says anything... Yet," Karen Smoot admits.

While you may think no one's around watching while you're surfing the web, they don't have to be at the time.

"With the right program on their network, they can see everything," Paulich, Slack, and Wolff Certified Legal Manager Lori Irons says.

A Naples-based employment attorney also tells us employees have little privacy at work.

That's because the computers and network are all property of the employer, giving them to legal right to trace any site you may visit and any E-mail you may send.

"Anybody can read it, especially anybody up above you," Irons adds.
She says even if you think what you're doing is okay... It could get you in trouble.

"Something that might sound innocent or casual can be taken in a different respect. Somebody you share jokes with and they could be off colored could be a reason for termination," Irons explains.

So next time you're surfing the web at work, remember, your boss can see everything, if they want to. And if what you're doing violates company policy, they have the right to fire you.