If you run a company, start a company, or are an executive at a company, this should be on the radar screen – who can send to the 'all@yourcompany.com' alias.

Email is great at broadcasting news and updates around the office – both good and bad.  It is also a nice way for anyone to send anything to everyone.  Put some simple controls in place that allow only members of the executive team, HR, and Marketing (for internal communications) to use this alias.

I watched this in real life at a previous start up both before and during several RIFs (reductions in force).  What really got my attention was when an especially animated employee decided to cc the 'all' alias in a completely over the top argument he was having via email.  Individual responses telling him to stop were then broadcast back to all in his reply – good times were had by all.  After this incident, these controls were promptly implemented.

You will save yourself some pain and embarrassment especially given the season of layoffs that we are wading through.  Nothing like a snarky farewell email to the entire company to blow the lid off the best laid RIF and accompanying communications plan.