Brits use work email to flirt

Nearly a third of people have used their work email accounts to flirt with lovers, according to a survey from email security provider Proofpoint.

More than a quarter of those surveyed said they had dumped a lover via their work email and 36 per cent said they had applied for another job in the same way.

David Stanley of Proofpoint said: "It's staggering to see the degree to which email has become the norm for people breaking bad news or dumping their partner. It does seem a little cowardly!"

Stanley also warned of the dire implications for companies if staff accidentally or even deliberately send classified information by email.

"At the moment, a lot of companies have bad news to break but should think twice about the legal, HR and cultural implications of letting staff break that news via email," he said.