Sometimes it can be difficult to decide if a communication is really “public” or “private.” One of the best tests we know is to apply the bulletin board rule: If you can put whatever you are communicating up on a bulletin board for anyone to read, then it is a public communication. In that case, you can email it, text it, tweet it, record it on voicemail, or post it. But if it doesn’t pass The Bulletin Board test, then think twice before hitting that send button or recording that voicemail.
Download a copy of the Bulletin Board Rule to post in your office.