More than 100 employees at BAE Systems aerospace company are being investigated for inappropriate use of e-mail.
Disciplinary action is being taken against the shopfloor workers after sexist and racist material was found in e-mails from the workers at two Lancashire plants.
The investigation is centred on sites in Samlesbury, where 3,800 staff are employed, and Warton where a further 7,000 staff are based, the Preston Citizen reports.
It is thought the probe was triggered after another company reported receiving inappropriate e-mails from BAE Systems.
A company spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that an investigation, involving approximately 100 employees, is ongoing into the misuse of the company IT systems and the contravention of associated policies and procedures.
“The company’s established and tested procedures are being followed,” she said.
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She added that BAE Systems had taken great care to ensure that employees were made aware of policies regarding IT misuse and the potential implications should they be abused.
More than 1,200 BAE workers went on strike in September 2002 after an employee, who had worked at the company for 25 years, was sacked for internet misuse.
