In the past few weeks, the media reported a few instances of employee communications blunders that would make any communications pro cringe.

A booklet produced for laid-off Northwest Airlines employees told them "not to be shy" about taking something that "looks good" from a neighborhood dumpster; Radio Shack told 400 employees - via e-mail - that they were being fired.

How isolated are these examples? Would your CEO or VP of HR ever allow something like this to happen? Are you sure?

Consider ...